Thatched Roofing Installation

Thathing sheaves

The thatchers (or the thatch producers) prepare the thatching sheaves from the thatching material (reed, straw, bamboo, PVC) so that they fix couple of hundreds of straws together with the thin wire (or cord made from some natural material).

The length of the sheaves depends on the natural length of the material they are produced from, the minimum profile (thickness) of such thatching sheaves is 25 cm.

Sheaves are then installed on the roof framing (beam profile 3,5 cm and more) and tethered (rust-proof wire or any natural material).

Roof trusses for thatched roofing

The distance between the truss beams must be 30 - 45 cm (or up to 70 cm if using the water/cane reed or bamboo thatch), the sheaves have to be fixed near the ridge and soffit line, in order to survive the stronger winds, alternatively you can add wooden gable fixers (used in the past in Russia).

Thatched roof and gutters

Gutters, downspouts and another plumbing components are usually not used together with tahtched roofs. Alternatively you can use wooden gutters and downspouts if your roof trusses allow you to do so.

When considering the thatching material to be used on your roof you should know that (experts advice) the most durable thatching material is probably the so called water reed (plant named Phragmites Australis) lasting up to 80 years, when properly cut, dried and prepared for roofing.