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It's a straw thing- a look at thatched properties
It’s a straw thing…
Thatched houses are the traditional country idyll. But are they really a dream come true?
One of the quintessential images of English country living is the tiny cottage with a thatched roof and climbing roses around the front door.
The reality of owning a property with a thatched roof can be somewhat less heavenly. From the cost of regular repair and renewal, the potential insurance-premium hike, and the fire hazard hanging over your head, thatch needs a dedicated owner not afraid to put the effort into maintaining it.
A good reed thatch can last between ten and 50 years, but will need to have minor repairs such as partial patching (where a small section of the thatch is replaced), done in that time. The slope of the roof that is most exposed to the weather will need replacing before its other half, and this could cost anywhere up to £10,000.
Thatched roofs also need rebridging - the replacement of the rooftop ridge, which is extremely vulnerable to wind and weather - every 10 to 15 years. However, when the entire roof needs rethatching, it may not mean taking the whole structure off.
Some of the wheat-straw roofs only require enough old straw to be removed in order that the base can be repaired, and then a new layer can be fitted back on top. On the other hand, water-reed roofs need completely replacing.
There are around 60,000 thatched cottages in Britain. More than 75 per cent of them are listed buildings, which makes any alterations or repairs that are carried out on the roof of utmost importance. Frances New, marketing manager of the Thatched Owners Group, says: “Buyers should check with their local conservation officer to find out what's required in that area and then get a quote from a recommended Thatcher.”
Thatch is the oldest roofing material that is still being used in Britain, and historians have found evidence of straw roofs dating back to 500BC. Whilst some buyers will be deterred by the maintenance and regulations, others will be attracted by their individuality and character.
Frances New, “Thatched houses are special homes, needing special care and maintenance, but with the right help and advice buying one shouldn't be a problem,” Ms New added.
Many people are under the impression that thatched homes cost far more to insure, but in reality it may not be any more than any other old house. The risk of fire is heightened but some modern thatchers put fireproof boarding below the thatch, so if the roof did catch fire, the flaming part don’t fall into the house below and set that alight too.
“Fortunately thatch fires are nowhere near as common as some would have us believe,” says Frances New. Today’s thatches can have fire retardant applications, which can be put onto the thatch and to the internal timberwork, which further reduces the risk of fire.
The Thatched Owners Group has put together a fact sheet for prospective buyers of thatched properties, explaining the different types of thatch in use, what questions to ask before you buy, and advice on insurance, conservation, and maintenance.
The life expectancy of a thatched roof will vary according to several factors: regular maintenance, the quality of materials used, the skill of the Thatcher, the proximity of trees, pollutants in the environment and even the geographical location as a high humidity level shortens the life-span of the thatching materials.
There are many different types of thatch, from Water Reed (also known as Norfolk Reed), which can last up to 50 years; Combed Wheat, which can last between 25 and 40 years, and long straw, which can last 15 to 25 years. They estimate the top part of the roof to have a life span of between 10 and 15 years.
Most of the houses in Britain are thatched in English wheat straw, which gives a rounder, more rustic, look, whereas water reed is quite angular and sharp-edged.
English Heritage is very keen to protect regional styles and resist the spread of the durable Norfolk reed across the land.
Any wiring should be housed in a vermin-proof environment, chimneys should be swept each year, and electrics should be checked once every ten years.
If you are considering buying a thatched property, there are certain questions that should be asked, such as when was the roof last thatched, have there been any repairs carried out on the roof in the past decade, when was the ridge last re-thatched and when was the roof last surveyed?
You should also ask if the thatch had any coatings applied to it, whether any of the roof timbers have been replaced or repaired, whether the chimney is lined, and are there any types of fire resistant barrier in the roof?
The Thatched Owners Group, which has around 10,000 members, receive advice on insurance, mortgages, roof surveys, re-thatching, property renovation, fire prevention applications and fire safety products, thatched property sales and much more. Membership costs £60 per year.
Thatch and HIPs
There has been confusion about whether or not thatch constitutes roof insulation.
The latest advice is that insulation is calculated to be half the thickness of the thatch, so if for example a thatch is two feet thick, the insulation is considered to be one foot thick.
This means that virtually all thatched houses should out-perform minimum insulation standards. The Energy Saving Trust has full details of the calculations on their website.
Thatch and pests
Most pests are opportunists, continuously on the look out for food and shelter. Thatch is warm. If it is a straw roof, there will likely be some grain left in it, providing a source of food for rodents.
You should make it as difficult as possible for vermin to get into the roof. If a thatch is kept in good repair, completely covered with 3/4" mesh wire netting and inspected regularly, pests are rarely a problem.
Squirrels, which can chew through electricity cables and cause havoc getting in and out of the thatch, are amongst the worst intruders. You can buy humane squirrel traps from The Thatched Owners Group.
If rats get into the roof and have a plentiful supply of food and water they will not come out. If there is no water supply, they will attempt to get in and out of the thatch to find one, so ensure your water tank is well covered.
Poison is one way of dealing with rodents, but you should consult a professional rather than try to deal with the problem yourself. You could also get a cat. Rats and mice will usually stay away from a house where they can detect a cat’s scent.
Ultrasound gadgets that emit a high- pitched noise, which is inaudible to the human ear, but are unbearable for rodents. They can protect an area of 2500 square feet, but can harm family pets.
Birds can be another cause of concern. In the spring, sparrows and magpies peck straw from the thatch to build a nest.
This type of damage is easy and inexpensive to repair, but should be done so straight away to ensure no other birds get in through the holes.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (RSPB) recommends identifying the type of bird causing the problem and then using the distress call of that bird to deter others of the same species.
Tapes of alarm calls can be purchased for around £20, which will create a bad environment for the birds and they will look for alternative places to visit.
CONTACTS
The Energy Saving Trust: www.est.org.uk, or 0800 512012.
The National Society of Master Thatchers: www.nsmtltd.co.uk.
The Thatched Owners Group: www.thatched-group.com or 01767 600707.
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I think I have been doing what your article recommends but we have a recently re-thatched roof, Long straw, 18 months old and fully wired. Not long after re-thatching something died in the attic above the airing cupboard. Awful smell but we never found remains. At this point I put an ultrasound gadget up there and some trays of mouse/rat poison. All has been well until this w/e when I noticed that the poison from all three trays (well spaced out, it's a big attic) has been eaten. We have had no smell and no other evidence of vermin (can't see droppings). Any suggestions as to what it/they are and what else can be done? Should I be contacting our Thatcher or pest control or both?