Comment from SCHATZLING
This is not only a remarkable photo, it has so much story telling capabilities. I never heard about thatching until this photo....then I went and researched it. I have learned so much...I would love to have roof like that myself (smile). It is interesting that the thatch is applied directly to the rafters. Some owners choose to 'finish' the interior ceiling, while others choose to leave the thatch exposed. And what makes it even more remarkable is that a roof thatched with water reed will last approximately 70 years with very little maintenance. The ridge will need to be reworked every 10 to 20 years. AND it (a roof Thatcher's skills) may date back to the Bronze Age. I am proud of you that you actually are able to do this and that you have done so to your own home. WOW. Sorry you did not win the contest. I voted for you. Everything about this photo is right on point. Thanks so much for sharing. Sorry it took me a little longer to review. This is my first access to a computer in several days. I do not have one of my own and sometimes when I do have the opportunity other things take priority....Again, excellent photo and It is AWESOME that you know this skill well enough to execute on your own home.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2017

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reply by the author on 05-Oct-2017

Thanks very much for your review, I do appreciate your comments. The house was built in the 16th century and is listed grade 2. which means I cannot use a reed, I had to use a straw as previously used.

Comment from rogere3852
Hello

Original thought well presented. I have never seen how this is done before and really surprised at the thickness of the roof. I wonder if the stakes showing are what tie down the roof when completed.
I really like this but confess I have more questions. Wish there were some more information about what I am seeing.

Anyway thank you for sharing this one.

Roger

 Comment Written 09-Sep-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Sep-2017

Thank you Roger for your review, Here is some info on thatching. :Why use thatch for a roof?

Thatched roofs are beautiful! Once you've seen a thatched building in decent repair, you'll never ask such a question again. There is simply no other type of roof that has such texture, such swoops and rolls, and such personality. Distinctive? With a capital D!

We've included larger photos of several of these projects.

What is thatch?

Thatch is a natural reed and grass which, when properly cut, dried, and installed, forms a waterproof roof. Traditionally thatchers use locally available materials. If local farmers were growing wheat, then wheat reed or straw was used. Rye, barley and oat straw, and even heathers have been used. In wet lowlands, sedge has been a traditional thatch, particularly for ridging material.

The most durable thatching material is water reed (Phragmites Australis) which can last up to 60 years. This is the thatch used by The Thatch Company. Here you can see bundles of water reed stacked on the roof and beside the house in preparation for the day's work.

The Shannon River and its tributaries used to produce an abundance of water reed. It still does, but increased runoff of farm fertilizers in the last two decades have all but ruined this traditional source of reed. When bathed in nitrates, water reeds grow longer and faster. They become much more brittle and are easily snapped. Their useful lifespan on a roof is also shortened tremendously.

The Thatch Company imports its water reed mainly from Turkey. Why Turkey? Turkey has still not "progressed" to the point of destroying its waterways with excessive farm fertilizers. Turkish reed is also particularly well suited to the Irish climate. We also use reed from Poland, Hungary, and selected reed beds of France.

Thatch can be dressed into unusual shapes, indeed. In this picture, the thatch flows around the roof line of an old traditional cottage, lifting for a window, then sweeping down to cover the rounded corners.

How does a thatched roof keep out rain?

Water reed is naturally waterproof. This is no waterlogged plant, soggy and bloated with water. In fact, the inside of a natural water reed is hollow. The water is kept out by the tight overlapping of cells on the plant's outer layers. If you bundle enough of these water shedding plants together, water simply cannot penetrate. Moisture typically does not absorb into the thatch bundles more than 1 or 2 inches.

The thatchers' art consists of carefully laying 5 to 6 foot bundles of reeds atop one another so that an impenetrable shell of waterproofing covers a roof. Each thatch layer is built up to a thickness of around 12 inches and gravity carries rain, sleet, and snow down and off the roof.

What about ventilation and insulation?

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 vapour in attics, thatched roofs require no attic ventilation.

A water reed thatched roof, 12 inches thick at a pitch angle of 45 degrees meets the most modern insulation standards. The scientific term for insulating properties is "thermal conductance," known as the U value. The U-value of a properly thatched roof is 0.35, which is equivalent to 4 inches of fibreglass insulation between the joists. Only in the last decade have building codes begun to demand this level of roof insulation. Yet, thatch has been providing such a "modern" value for hundreds of years.

An added benefit is that thatch is a much more effective sound insulation than fiberglass. An inch of thatch will stop a microphone from picking up sounds.

Are there other benefits of a thatched roof?

"From a conservation point of view thatch is less demanding on the land as the raw materials do not require quarrying or mining. Water reed... is a natural crop that, properly maintained, promotes the surival of wildlife and improves the environment generally; perhaps even more importantly, it grows in areas which are otherwise agriculturally unviable. The alternative thatching material, straw, is a by-product of an essential food harvest. So neither product creates wastage or is a drain on the world's natural resources." (from Thatch by Robert West)

Also, organic thatch weathers to produce a warm, textured, charcoal patina over decades of service. For appearance, warmth, charm, and performance, nothing approaches thatch.

Will a thatched building hold its value?

Yes! 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, hotels, pubs, and retail shops. If you're trying to tempt motorists into your commercial establishment, thatch beckons more convincingly than neon.

Will thatch stand up to strong winds?

Modern thatching methods make thatch one of the strongest types of roofs, certainly one better able to handle high winds than common asphalt strip shingles. Note that the roof timber work and laths seen in this photo were constructed by The Thatch Company.

Before the thatch is placed on the roof, long brass screws are firmly inserted deep into the wooden roof laths. Twisted onto the screw is a long, heavy duty steel wire. Bundles of reeds are then placed onto the roof. Over the bound reed bundles steel rods are placed. Then the wire which is secured to the lathing is tied through the reeds to the steel rods. The result is a natural water-repelling material firmly bound by steel rods and wires to the roof laths and joists.

Of course, you won't see the steel rods or wires since these are buried 5 to 6 inches below the top reed layer. The result is a light yet extremely durable, steel tied roof. It's not going anywhere! This picture is a hotel in Kinvarra, County Galway. You are looking at the largest thatched roof in Ireland. During the 100 + mile per hour winds of the 1998 St. Stephen's Day storm, not a reed was out of place. This despite the serious damage done to many slate roofs in the area.

It should be noted that when rethatching and conserving older buildings, The Thatch Company does not use steel, but the more traditional (and quite effective) wood spar system. Check out our rethatching page for more details.

How is the ridge of the roof protected?

The roof ridge is best made of a more pliable and better bonding material than water reed. Wheat straw is preferred for this purpose and it is held in place by wooden spars. It is important that winter wheat be used since it is stronger and more durable than spring wheat. Of course, The Thatch Company uses only winter wheat straw.

There are two basic forms of ridge: flush and block. A flush ridge is just that - it is flush with the rest of the roof line and does not stand out from it. A block ridge, on the other hand, is built up and then cut to form a block raised very visibly over the roof ridge.

Comment from emspics
Great angle for the shot because it isn't on an angle! The various lines in this composition make it quite engaging. Exposure contrasts are a little problematic, but still a very nice pic.

 Comment Written 08-Sep-2017

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reply by the author on 11-Sep-2017

Thank you for your review, Always appreciated.

Comment from MKFlood
interesting that some still stick to old tradition. the clarity is great. the angle of the shot of the dude working on his roof is great. the capture of the light is great. the image is balance and eye interesting to the viewer. good eye and great job overall.

 Comment Written 08-Sep-2017

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reply by the author on 11-Sep-2017

Thank you for your review, Always appreciated.