How To Maintain A Thatched Roof

The top layer of thatch on any thatched roof rots over time.

How to maintain a thatched roof.

Allow it to dry well remove trees and plants which may hinder the sun and wind drying it or rain dispersing. A pitch of around 50 degrees is desirable to be the most effective. Brushing a thatched roof. This can save a lot of work in the long run.

Renewing these ridges is the most common maintenance a thatch requires. This is the most regular maintenance a thatched roof usually requires. Thatch roofs are indeed beautiful but they do need to be well maintained in order to last and give you the best insulation. Since the dry thatch will have a longer life it s possible to strip off the top layer every ten years or so but leave the lower layers in place.

Do not allow other trades to damage the roof either with ladders or by walking on the thatch. If the weather is favourable and dry you can use fungicides which can help to kill the moss and algae and help your roof to remain drier for longer. Do not assume that. But where organic materials are used the ridge never lasts as long as a new coat of thatch.

If a thatched roof is well made water will only penetrate to about 50 mm which is about 20 of the whole depth. Thatched roof maintenance starts with routine inspections. If your roof has been thatched by a well qualified professional chances are it will not require frequent maintenance at all. Algae and moss can greatly reduce the lifespan of your thatched roof and there are several methods you can use to control the menace.

A specialist insurance broker will understand the specific risks involved and an understanding of as to how the roof should be maintained in line with the specific requirements for adequate levels of cover. But the key to long life is maintenance. The pitch of a thatched roof is also important as it allows water to run off and be thrown well away from the property before it has chance to be absorbed. Any divot created has.

The more effort you put into maintaining a thatched roof the longer it will last. Where slate and asphalt tiles may have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years a high quality thatched roof can last twice as long without the need for re roofing. While your thatched roof is keeping you covered you need to ensure that your insurance is covering the roof. To keep the roof in best condition.