The tradition of thatches dates back a long time. It is one of the oldest forms of roofing which was, and still is, very popular in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and England. Currently, there is an increased trend of thatched roofs in Poland. Nowadays it is one of the more expensive ways to cover a roof, in contrast to earlier times when thatch was made by peasants from rye straw, which was waste after the harvest. In recent years the methods and techniques of thatching has changed, increasing its strength and significantly improving aesthetics. Needless to say, reed is a natural product making it a 100% organic material. Reed is a material which boasts many advantages. One of the main advantages is strength. A welldesigned thatched roof structure with professional execution can last 70 years or more. Another advantage of reeds is insulation. Thatch keeps cool in Summer and in Winter, the attic temperature is maintained above 0 degrees. Thermal conductivity is 0.35 W/m2K(Współczynnik przewodzenia ciepła strzechy wynosi 0,35 W/m2K.). Speaking of insulation it is worth mentioning that thatch absorbs sound perfectly. Rain, for example, absolutely cannot be heard in the house which can be heard through roofs covered with roofing tiles or sheet.
The roof structure must be properly designed. The roof angle should not be less than 30 degrees the sharper the angle the longer the thatch lasts. The shape of the roof, location and type of roof windows and chimneys are also important factors. Appropriate design of the roof structure allows us to get really fabulous results. However, the roof trusses should be adequately strong as 1 m2 thatch weighs about 5070 pounds and the potential weight of rain and snow must also be accounted for.
Thatched roofs do not require special care. It should be noted also that because of weather conditions moss may have grown and will need to be removed. In addition, remember to renew fireproofing.