Thatches homes were once popular only with rural afficionados, thought to be expensive to maintain and considered likely to catch fire. Nothing could be further from the truth, says Nigel Lewis
One legacy from Margaret Thatcher’s stint as PM that the film Iron Lady doesn’t touch upon is her surname – an occupation that has roots back to the Bronze Age and continues to thrive today.
But whether it's a co-incidence or not, thatching and thatchers are enjoying a resurgence.
Homes with a straw or reed topping represent a small fraction of the UK housing stock – just 35,000 or 0.13% - but according to research by estate agent Hamptons International, this figure is rising by between 5,000 and 7,000 or five per cent a year as more and more are built.
The trend to construct thatched properties is surprising – thatch is considered tough to maintain, expensive to replace and prone to catching light.
But such is the desire for new homes with character that builders are competing with whatever architectural tools they can muster – and the ‘brand new ancient’ look is in.
It is therefore time for PrimeLocation to take a look at this most ancient roofing material, particularly because it’s considered to have the building trade’s greenest credentials along with straw walls; it’s natural, sustainable and beautiful.
What is thatch?
It’s a roofing material made of stalks and other vegetation but the most commonly used in the UK are combed wheat reed, long straw and Norfolk reed but can include sedge and even heather.
Why thatch?
Most if not all rural homes were roofed with thatch up utnil the early 19th century when, during the 1820s, the arrival of cheap welsh slate and the growth of the railways made it a more attractive and reliable material to use.
But the introduction of ever more modern and chemical-based farming methods also nearly killed off thatch by drastically reducing supply. Happily the green revolution has come to its rescue and a small industry of specialist growers has evolved. Advantages over other materials include its sustainability as a material; that it keeps homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer; makes homes quieter; leaks much less (because they are usually at least 30cm thick) and – because it’s tighter – puts off animals and birds making a home in it. And lastly, and most importantly, a thatched property drips with something more intangible, beauty.
How much does a thatch roof cost?
If you are adding thatch to a ‘new build’ or replacing an old one aim to be spending approximately £110 a square meter – the average roof size in the UK is about 40 square meters so £4,400 but obviously that’s an average – roof sizes vary hugely depending on property size.
How long will a thatch roof last?
This depends more on the skills of the thatcher than the material used. But as rough guide, expect water reed to last 50-80 years, combed wheat reed 30-40 years and straw 15-25 years.
Case study: raising our roof
Meet the Fords. In 1991 they bought a 1950s bungalow in Stoke Poges, near Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire but then in 2002 pulled it down to build their ideal home; a thatched three storey with five bedrooms.
Their street, which has several existing thatched homes, contains 26 properties within a forested ‘community’ called Stoke Wood.
They chose to use Norfolk reed, one of the longer-lasting thatch materials and comparable to tile (at 60 years’ life span) but the biggest surprise for the couple, they say, is that their insurance premiums were not more than if they had a more traditional roof.
The only extra costs for them were that their chimney must be swept at least once a year, and fire extinguishers have to be kept in readiness... just in case. Their property is now for sale at £1.6 million through Hamptons International on 01753 886464.