Thatch provides excellent thermal insulation, making buildings cool in summer and warm in winter. When laid in the traditional manner, a thatched roof lasts for many years and requires little maintenance. After about 5 to 7 years of service, Marram thatched roofs need to be re-thatched to bring them back to their original specification, This is usually done by adding to the existing roof, sometimes the chicken wire will have to be replaced due to corrosion.
If a roof has suffered extensive damage from a storm, it may not be necessary to undergo a complete re-thatch. It is often possible to remove the affected material and build up the roof again with Marram, Straw or Reed. My experience is that each thatched roof is different.
I can provide annual maintenance, but it is possible for owners to do some of the general tasks. Contact me for advice.
