   
1. What is thatch?
2. How does it keep weather out?
3. Why thatch?
4. What type of building should be considered for thatch?
5. Can any house have thatch?
6. What is the life span of thatch?
7. Maintenance?
8. Cost?
9. What about fire?
10. What about Insurance?
11. What about ventilation?
12. How long does it take to get a thatched roof?
13. What do we do next?
1. What is thatch?
A roof can be thatched in water reed, long straw, combed wheat reed,
flax, heather, or one of several other types of straw or grass. Water reed, also known as
Norfolk Reed, is the longest-lasting type of thatch (up to 60 years) and is the type
installed by New World Thatchers.
2. How does it keep
weather out?
Contrary to common misconceptions, thatch is able to withstand the most
extreme weather conditions. Reeds about 5 to 6 feet long are lashed to the roof deck or
lath with steel rods and stainless wires or hooks. The bottom end of each reed is canted
slightly up from the slope of the roof so only the last 1 to 2 inches is left exposed, and
the thatch layer is built up to a thickness of around 12 inches. Gravity carries rain and
snow down the roof from each reed tip to the ones below and off the roof. Moisture
typically does not absorb into the thatch layer more than 1 inch.
All other roofing systems are basically two-dimensional – they are
no more than 1-inch thick and most are only ¹ inch. Thatch is the only system that is
fully 12 inches thick, producing texture, reveal, and depth that adds an entirely new
dimension to a building. It blankets a building to keep it warm in winter, cool in summer,
and dry all year round. Also, organic thatch weathers to produce a warm, textured,
charcoal patina over decades of service. For appearance, warmth, charm, and performance,
nothing approaches thatch.
Thatched roofing can add incomparable charm to homes, summer cottages,
gatehouses, barns, beach houses, or most any building with a sloped roof, whether it be in
a rural, urban, or suburban setting. Experience in England confirms that homes with
thatched roofs command higher selling prices than similar ones with tile or slate. Thatch
is also very effective in commercial settings such as restaurants, storefront mansards,
taverns, and retail shops.
Although no special structural considerations are required for thatch
(it weighs around 7 pounds per square foot), certain architectural features are needed. A
roof slope of no less than 45o (12-in-12) is recommended, and certain eave and dormer
treatments utilize the depth and texture of thatch better than others. Also, because of
its thickness, thatched roofs typically have no gutters or downspouts, and some practical
considerations such as clearance below dormer windows must be made.
Norfolk Reed will stay watertight for 50 years or more, which makes it
a good, long investment in style and money.
No maintenance is required on reed for it to retain its watertight
condition. Fire retardant should be re-applied every five to seven years with a simple
spray application. Also, the highly decorative straw ridging has a life span of around 10
to 12 years, so the ridge will need to be renewed at that interval.
The character and appeal of thatch does not come cheap. Although there
are several variables that affect costs, most projects will install for between $15 and
$30 per square foot of roof area.
Nearly all types of roofing present a substantial fire risk. For
example, the asphalt in modern strip shingles is nothing less than highly flammable crude
oil. The flammability of thatch, similar to that of wood shingles, used to be a major
concern. With the advent of simple, modern fire retardants, however, this risk has been
minimized to be no greater than with other more conventional roofs.
We have established approval from one of the worlds largest insurers of
high-end residential buildings to cover buildings with a properly fire-protected thatch
roof for no higher cost than that required for the same building with a conventional roof.
One of the great attractions of thatch is that is extremely thermally
efficient – warm in winter and cool in summer. Unlike conventional roofing systems
that trap heat and moisture vapor in attics, thatched roofs require no attic ventilation.
Scheduling is another unconventional aspect of thatched roofs. Norfolk
reed is harvested annually and the best quality reed is more available during certain
seasons in different parts of the world. Also, the limited availability of qualified
thatchers extends installation time once work has commenced. Usually a lead time of two to
three months is sufficient, and most average-sized residences can be thatched in about a
month.
If you want to start the process to giving your residential or
commercial property the unique style of thatch, just call New World Thatchers at
502-459-0626. For new construction, we’ll take off the job from your plans, or
we’ll measure and photograph the building if it is an existing structure. From there,
we’ll discuss suitability and scheduling and prepare a firm bid for the work.
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