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How Does A Thatched Roof Keep Out The Rain?

Thatched roofs are an excellent feature to any building, effective and aesthetically pleasing in equal measures. The materials used are extremely hardy, weather resistant and durable to strong winds. But how exactly does a thatched roof keep out the rain?

Materials used in thatching such as water reed are naturally waterproof. The inside of water reed is hollow, water is kept out by tight overlapping cells on the plants outer layers. When enough of these plants are bundled together, the water simply cannot penetrate the material and will simply run away. Moisture is not typically absorbed into thatched bundles any deeper than 1 or 2 inches (whereas thatched roofs are typically 12 inches deep).

The pitch of a thatched roof is also important as it allows water to run off and be thrown well away from the property before it has chance to be absorbed. A pitch of around 50 degrees is desirable to be the most effective. Thatch is also a natural insulator, air pockets within straw thatch insulate a building in both warm and cold weather. This allows a building to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. When applied properly and thoroughly maintained thatch is also extremely resistant to other weather forces such as strong winds.

Here at Heart of England Master Thatchers we are the market leader in thatching maintenance and servicing. With over 10 years experience we provide thatching services throughout the heart of England and beyond. Contact our expert team today for all your thatching needs!