2.6. Location of the Thatched Roof
If a thatched house is positioned, for instance, in the centre of a clear and unwooded property, the thatched roof will be able to dry more quickly than in the middle of a thick wood.
If a thatched house lies in a wooded environment the reed roof is shaded by the surrounding trees, it is sheltered from wind and perhaps even the dripping water or the rain water of the trees might pour down on it.
The consequence is, that the thatched roof needs longer time to dry – the longer lasting humidity and moisture encourage the growth of algae. In the case of a higher moisture load on the inside, caused by constructional flaws in the building process (see above) a longer drying time will add to the problem and shorten the lifespan of the thatched roof.
Illustration 17: It is easy to spot the places where rain and dripping water trickle on the roof from the surrounding trees.
Illustration 18: A thatched house built in a wood which is likely to have a low life expectancy.
Also the orientation to the sun influences the durability of a thatched roof, as the south and the east side dry faster than the north and the west side of a thatched roof. Problems with the durability will therefore show up first on the north and west side.
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