Today, thatched roof construction is making a comeback – with an interest being taken in the sustainability of the materials used, as well as the maintenance of the original features or period buildings. By definition, thatching is the act – or art – of constructing a roof from dry vegetation, which could be straw, water reed or another naturally-occurring material. The vegetation is tightly packed and layered in such a way that it diverts moisture away from the inner roof and also creates an effective barrier of insulation.

Thatch is, in fact, the most common roofing material in the world – with it having been utilised in, effectively, all climates: which is down to the fact that thatched roofs are particularly effective insulators, and also use low-cost materials.

History

Thatched roofs were the only option for most buildings in small villages, and the countryside, of England right up until the 1800s. It was only with the introduction of railways and canals that allowed for the mobility of building materials that saw thatching begin to lose favour. The popularity of thatched roof construction then fluctuated throughout the 19th Century, with it first losing popularity with the increased mobility of new travel technology, and then regaining this with the growth of agriculture. As the 1800s drew to a close, though, thatched roofs fell in popularity again due to the agricultural recession, which then lead to thatched roofs being seen as a sign of poverty.

Elsewhere in the world, a similar reality is applicable in that thatched roofing materials were readily available before the invention of railways and canals. That’s why many of the buildings remaining from Ancient Hawaiians were constructed using local ti leaves on as the roof, and often also the walls, for example.

Advantages

As aforementioned, thatch roof construction is clearly advantageous in a variety of aspects, which grants it the moniker of being the most common roof material in the world. Firstly, there is the fact that thatching is light and therefore requires less strength to support the structure. This plays nicely into the reality that, despite being expensive in terms of labour today with only around 1,000 thatchers in the UK, thatching is cheap in terms of building materials. What’s more, thatching is a versatile roof construction method, with the adaptability of the materials and methods meaning irregular roofs are manageable. Thatch materials are sustainable and come from both recycled and natural resources, which means thatch is the economically-minded choice for roofing. Finally, as aforementioned, thatched roofs are naturally water-resistant and very effective insulators.

Disadvantages

Thatched roofs aren’t perfect, though, and there are a couple of disadvantages that should be taken into consideration. Firstly, since the perception that thatched roofs are a fire hazard still remains, these roofs can often increase insurance premiums. Furthermore, the labour-intensive nature of repairs and installation means that restoration can be expensive, with animals and wildlife attracted to nesting and damaging (inadvertently, of course) your thatched roof, which means maintenance can be required often.

Thatching it up

Thatched roof construction appeals to a certain vein of customers: people that are interested in the maintenance of historic landmarks, a rustic and classical aesthetic and those interested in utilising environmentally-viable materials at every opportunity. There is certainly some interesting history behind thatched roofs, like the fact that the Globe Theatre is the only thatched roof in London and it’s simply for visual purposes, with a fireproof roofing material underneath.

If you’d like to hear more about the roofing services we offer here at AJ Scutchings & Sons, then please get in touch. You can call us on 07778 188 952 or fill out our simple contact form to find out more.