How many of us have dreamt of buying that Thatched Cottage in the Countryside?  Rose Bush out the front, the picket fence with the Apple Tree in the Garden and a property with abundance of beauty and character?  Well I certainly do, however there are lots of things to consider before buying one – don’t be put off but to answer any queries you may have or to help you decide, below are a few things to think about before setting up home in this idealic setting.

HOW LONG DOES A THATCHED ROOF LAST?

The straw on a Thatched Roof needs to replaced every few decades.  There are varied types of Thatches and this will determine how often they should be replaced. 

Long Straw is the most common in the UK.  The material is a cereal straw, usually wheat and occasionally rye.  These tend to last 20-30years.

Combed Wheat Reed is similar to long straw and is based on a cereal like Long Straw and it is usually Wheat.  It’s similar to water reed in appearance and the way it sits on the roof.  These types of Thatched Roofs will last up to 30 years.

Water Reed is classed as the most durable thatching material and can last up to 50 years with the appropriate maintenance. However this can also depend on the geographical location of your property, it might not last as long if you experience poor weather conditions.

A good Thatch does not require frequent maintenance but it does require looking after.  Once a new thatch has been put on the ridge of the thatch will need replacing every 10-15 years.  This costs in the region of £150-£200 per foot.  Re-ridging is required several times during the lifespan of a thatch. Experts no longer recommend covering thatch with wire netting either, as this slows evaporation and reduces longevity

It’s important to have your roof inspected regularly, just like you would your boiler or car, the better maintained you keep it, the longer it will last!

The most common problem with a thatched roof is the potential for leaks.  These can come from every area of the roof particularly the ridge, corners and valleys. Thatch can be made more waterproof by using a water repellent coating - this will add a long lasting, anti mould, protective barrier from moisture absorption, reed mould, growth of moss and algae, rotting and discolouration.

UNWELCOME VISITORS!

Rodents are often attracted to thatched properties.  They can get into the loft space and chew on the straw and fixings as well as causing holes by burrowing their way out of the roof. 

Vermin are more likely to set up camp in your Thatch during the winter – if there are grains left in the ears of the material they will take this food source and then realise how warm and cosy it is up there and suddenly they have the perfect home!  To avoid this issue it’s important to take steps, taking pest control measures before you notice any signs of vermin is key.  You can add Traps or Poison into the Loft Space.  With any luck they will be attracted to this before your Thatch.  You can also add a bait box outside to lure them there first. 

It is also important if you are having re-thatching work to ensure no new visitors arrive in the new thatch.  Equally ensuring none decide to visit the roof before it is wired in.  It’s often standard practice for a Thatcher to put bait in the roof space as a precautionary measure which is most useful and sorts the problem before it happens.

Good wiring of the outside thatched roof is important, and it is a good idea to periodically do a visual check that no holes have appeared through which the critters can get in and ensuring any electrics in roof space are best in metal conduit, which they cannot chew through!

EXPENSE

Thatchers will usually charge by the square (10 ft × 10 ft) so if you’re looking for ball-park figures and a rough estimate, an average price would be about £850 per square. It’s important to note each thatcher is different and therefore prices will vary. The cost includes sourcing the materials and the labour involved in putting it all together.

INSURANCE

Thatched properties come with a slightly higher cost of insurance due to a higher fire risk, they also have a more expensive rebuild value than conventional houses because they have been built using specific materials by specialists, there are only around 800 master thatchers in the country after all! That being said, whilst there are specialist insurance companies you can go for, many standard home insurance companies will still offer you a policy.

FIRE RISK

Whilst fires in thatched buildings are not actually as common as you may think, research has shown that the major cause of fires in thatched buildings is heat transfer from the chimney into the thatch. The thatch reaches its ignition temperature and a roof fire can develop and spread rapidly.

There are simple precautions you can take that will greatly reduce your chance of a thatch fire:

• Properly insulating your chimney flue to prevent heat transfer. It’s often worth thinking twice about installing a log burner as they burn at higher temperatures.
• Good chimney maintenance is important, this includes having your chimney swept twice a year if you use your fire regularly.
• Homeowners have the option of adding a system of heat sensors within the thatch around the chimney, which will give an early warning of any overheating of the thatch.
• The higher the chimney the better. If you are thinking of putting in a log burner you may have to modify your chimney, this is so sparks can die away before they drop on to the thatch.
• Electrical wiring should be checked regularly.

SURVEY

Roof surveys start at £150 and are important for anyone looking to buy a thatched property. Surveyors will be able to tell you when the roof was last replaced, what type of thatch it is, if any repairs need to be done, and the cost of having it maintained or replaced.

TEMPERATURE

Old Thatched properties are freezing you hear them say….well that’s a myth!  This roofing technique creates air pockets in the structure and this traps the heat and keeps it there which insulates the building when it’s cold and also helps in warmer weather.

VALUE

Owning a Thatch Roofed property may sound like a hassle, however they really do hold their value due to their uniqueness and there are only around 60,000 of them in England now and at least 75% of those hold Listed Building Status.  For its size, Dorset has more thatched houses than any other part of the country, with nearly a tenth of them located here – that's around four per square mile.

Thatch Roofed Properties are pretty much always surrounded by picturesque Countryside and other gorgeous buildings.   

So if you are not put off by any of the things mentioned above then it sounds like it is the right choice for you…so go for it!

If you are buying a property, you may find some of these links useful: