Upgrade Your Building with a Thatched Roof Using Quality Straw
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The roof is an essential component of any building. It's the first and last line of defense against the elements which is responsible for protecting the property and everything within it. An improperly installed roof or one made with substandard materials is just water damage waiting to happen. You can avoid that costly and disastrous scenario by upgrading your home with a thatched roof using a quality straw.
Thatched buildings are our specialty at McGhee & Co. Roof Thatchers, LLC. We’ve worked on buildings throughout the nation and internationally, so you know we have the ability to put the finishing touches on your construction project, too.
We use only the highest quality supplies because we take pride in our work and want to create the best possible authentic thatched roofs we can for our customers. When we build a new thatch roof on a house or barn, we always ensure that the bundles of water reed or straw that we use are going to last.
We also install thatched walls for clients, so contact us today to learn more about our services. We are always happy to hear from new and existing customers.
Reed and Straw
In Europe, a roof made of the reed is more durable than one made of straw. Plants such as Norfolk reed - so called because it was harvested in the Norfolk fens - were commonly used along with coastal areas in the Southeast of England and the west coast of Scotland. Other reeds are harvested all over the world and are commonly referred to by the generic name "water reed." The availability of reed accounts for the concentration of thatched buildings along coasts and in marshy areas.
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Before it can be used, the reed must be thoroughly dried to prevent it from shrinking once it is in place. Once dry, it is gathered in bundles and attached to the prepared frame of the roof. The bundles have a circumference of 24 to 27 inches, or "3 hands." Depending on the size of the project and the part of the roof, a bundle is anywhere from 3 to 7 feet long.
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Straw is another common thatching material. While readily available, straw thatch does not last as long as a reed. Collecting it is also more labor-intensive since it has to be cut and thrashed before it's drawn by hand into workable bundles, known as "yearns." Because straw is so brittle, the thatcher must continually wet it while working to keep it from breaking. The straw will not shrink as it dries, so the thatcher must gauge during the process what the finished roof will look like.