Constructions with reed

The Durability of a Thatched Roof

As a rule, a thatched roof has a life span of between 25 and 40 years. Some roofs, however, become much older. The life expectancy of a thatched roof mainly depends on details of planning and construction of the building, as well as on the careful realisation and crafting and the materials employed.
Below we want to inform you about the different factors affecting the life expectancy of a roof.

As a rule of thumb we could say:
„The drier a roof is, the longer it will last.”

  1. 1. How does reed age?
  2. 2. Criteria for the durability of thatched roofs
    1. 2.1. Roof shape and design
      1. 2.1.1. Roof pitch
      2. 2.1.2. Valleys
      3. 2.1.3. Dormer windows
      4. 2.1.4. Stalk inclination
    2. 2.2. Proper ventilation of the thatched house
      1. 2.2.1. The development of the design of thatched houses
      2. 2.2.2. Reasons for humidity (water vapour) in residential buildings
      3. 2.2.3. Effects of construction moisture and humidity on the durability of thatched roofs
    3. 2.3. The construction of the thatched roof
      1. 2.3.1. The thatched roof as a ventilated roof
      2. 2.3.2. The thatched roof as a non-ventilated roof
    4. 2.4. The combination of old and new constructions and materials
    5. 2.5. The quality of the reed used
      1. 2.5.1. Requirements of thatching reed
      2. 2.5.2. Quality criteria
    6. 2.6. The location of the thatched roof
    7. 2.7. Expert knowledge and the expertise of the people involved
    8. 2.8. How microorganisms colonise thatched roofs
      1. 2.8.1. Reasons for the increasing growth of microorganisms on thatched roofs
      2. 2.8.2. How the growth works
      3. 2.8.3. Fighting microorganisms
    9. 2.9. The care and maintenance of thatched roofs
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