Thatch roofing brings the ambiance of nature to your home. Not only that, thatch roofing is even sustainable, weather-resistant, and aesthetically pleasing. A thatch roofing will make your place comfortable and relaxing. It is also eco-friendly.
Hence, you might decide to install thatch roofing. If that is the case, you might wonder about how to install thatch roofing.
Installing a thatch roofing is not so hard. However, not having any knowledge about installing a thatch roofing will surely cause some problems.
For this reason, let us walk you through the whole process of installing a thatch roofing step by step.
How to Install Thatch Roofing
You cannot install thatch roofing alone. Having some friends help you with the process is a must. Additionally, you will need some tools and materials to start installing the thatch roofing.
Necessary Tools and Materials
- Ladder
- Cutting tools
- Wire mesh
- Grass or Reed
Step by Step Procedure
Step 1: Firstly, you need to make sure whether you want real thatching or the look of a thatch roof.
The installation procedure varies a lot, so determining which roofing system you want to install is pretty important.
Step 2: In case you have decided to install a real thatch roof, you should start by gathering, stacking, and bundling grass or reed. Make sure to start this procedure days before installing the thatching roof as bundling the thatch requires a lot of time.
It is best to divide the workload between some people as it can be very exhausting for an individual.
Step 3: You should make sure that there is no sub-roof. Moreover, the pitch should be a minimum of 45 degrees. You have to lay the thatch on the rafters directly.
Furthermore, the thatch should be visible from below the roof. You can use some rafter poles to temporarily hold the thatching in their place while you continue to place the upper layers of thatching over them.
Step 4: You should bundle grass or reed by stacking them for this step. Note that each bundle should be at least 8 inches thick.
Place the bundles on the rafter in such a way that they overlap with each other. Hand-stitch all of the bundles onto the battens on the structure so that they remain in place.
Step 5: In this step, you should remove the rafter poles which you have placed temporarily. As you are done with laying and tying the bundles onto the rafters, you don’t need the rafter poles anymore.
Step 6: After you are done with all the previous steps, you should cover the whole roof with wire mesh. Route the wire throughout the thatch and fasten it.
This step will save your roof from birds and gusts of wind.
Step 7: If you do not want to use real thatch with grass and reed, you can replace it with palm tree leaves.
You should keep the palm tree leaves under the sun so that they can be dried out. After that, these leaves are divided into woven strips. Following that, the dried leaves are installed in place of real thatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you make a thatched roof waterproof?
Ans: You can use a water repellent coating to make the thatched roof waterproof.
2. Do thatched roofs attract animals?
Ans: Yes, thatch roofing attracts all sorts of animals. For instance, rats, birds, and squirrels.
3. How long will a thatched roof last?
Ans: Thatch roofing can last for more than 50 years. Generally, the top layer of thatch roofing is replaced by a new layer over the weathered surface.
4. Do thatched roofs get mouldy?
Ans: Natural thatch roofs generally resist mould formation. However, over time, mould forms over the thatching roof.
5. Are thatched roofs a fire hazard?
Ans: Yes, thatch roofs are a fire hazard. They are more prone to catching fire than other roofs.
Conclusion
If you are determined to install a thatch roofing, we hope that we were able to help. In the guideline above, we have tried to explain the process of how to install thatch roofing as elaborately as we could.
However, before you get started, make sure to understand the steps as clearly as possible. If you do not understand any of the steps above, be sure to seek help from professional roofers.
Installing a thatch roofing alone is almost impossible. Taking help from people close to you will decrease your workload a lot. We wish that you can now install a thatch roofing without any hitch.
