New World Thatchers is the result of the long-time desire of Commonwealth Roofing President Mike Sasse to re-introduce genuine European and African thatch roofing to North America. In the mid-1990s, Mike established a working relationship with a thatcher in England, then his son Joseph spent two years living in England and learning all aspects of the world’s oldest building material.
After this extensive training, Joseph returned to the U.S. and has installed thatch in theme parks, wineries, barns, zoos, and residences from Florida to Wisconsin and from Maine to California. He has now returned to this area and serves as one of only two American-born master thatchers in the nation.
Even though thatch has not been commonly used in North America since before colonial days, there are qualities that make it a perfect fit to fulfill modern criteria of appearance, performance, and environmental concerns. We have worked extensively with the National Roofing Contractors Association, Oakridge Laboratories, insurance companies, and European and African suppliers to merge the tradition of thatch with the demands of modern construction.
Why thatch? In a word : appearance! There is no type of conventional roofing that can approach the depth, color, shape, and soft warm appearance of thatch. Thatch is, of course, natural, organic, and the most environmentally-friendly roof system available.
A roof can be thatched in water reed, long straw, combed wheat reed, flax, heather, or one of several other types of straw or grass. Water reed, also known as Norfolk Reed, is the longest-lasting type of thatch (up to 60 years) and is the type preferred by Commonwealth Roofing.
Contrary to common misconceptions, thatched roofing is able to stand up to the worst weather conditions Louisville and Southern Indiana can dish out. Reeds about 5 to 6 feet long are lashed to the roof deck or lath with steel rods and stainless wires or hooks. The bottom end of each reed is canted slightly up from the slope of the roof so only the last 1 to 2 inches is left exposed, and the thatch layer is built up to a thickness of around 12 inches. Gravity carries rain and snow down the roof from each reed tip to the ones below and off the roof. Moisture typically does not absorb into the thatch layer more than 1 inch.
All other roofing systems are basically two-dimensional and they are no more than 1-inch thick and most are only 1/2 inch. Thatch is the only system that is fully 12 inches thick, producing texture, reveal, and depth that adds an entirely new dimension to a building. It blankets a building to keep it warm in winter, cool in summer, and dry all year round. Also, organic thatch weathers to produce a warm, textured, charcoal patina over decades of service.
Thatched roofing can add incomparable charm to homes, summer cottages, gatehouses, barns, beach houses, or most any building with a sloped roof, whether it be in a rural, urban, or suburban setting. Experience in England confirms that homes with thatched roofs command higher selling prices than similar ones with tile or slate. Thatch is also very effective in commercial settings including restaurants, storefronts, taverns, and retail shops. Even if thatching an entire building doesn’t fit your budget, imagine the charm that an affordable thatched gate house, gazebo, or portico could add to your property!
Although no special structural considerations are required for thatch (it weighs around 7 pounds per square foot), certain architectural features are needed. A minimum roof slope of no less than 45o (12-in-12) is recommended, and certain eave and dormer treatments utilize the depth and texture of thatch better than others. Also, because of its thickness, thatched roofs typically have no gutters or downspouts, and some practical considerations such as clearance below dormer windows must be made.
Norfolk Reed will stay watertight for 50 years or more, which makes it a good, long investment in style and money.
No maintenance is required on reed for it to retain its watertight condition. Fire retardant should be re-applied every five to seven years with a simple spray application. Also, the highly decorative straw ridging has a life span of around 10 to 12 years, so the ridge will need to be renewed at that interval.
The character and appeal of thatch does not come cheap. Although there are several variables that affect costs, most projects will install for between $15 and $30 per square foot of roof area. Consider, though, that an exposed thatch installation can replace conventional roofing, decking, insulation, and ceiling.
Nearly all types of roofing present a substantial fire risk. For example, the asphalt in modern strip shingles is nothing less than highly flammable crude oil. The flammability of thatch, similar to that of wood shingles, used to be a major concern. With the advent of simple, modern fire retardants, however, this risk has been minimized to be no greater than with other more conventional roofs.
Commonwealth Roofing has established approval from one of the world’s largest insurers of high-end residential buildings to cover buildings with a properly fire-protected thatch roof for no higher cost than that required for the same building with a conventional roof.
One of the great attractions of thatch is that is extremely thermally efficient, warm in winter and cool in summer. Unlike conventional roofing systems that trap heat and moisture vapor in attics, thatched roofs require no attic ventilation. And, twelve inches of thatch has test to yield an R-value over R-26.
Scheduling is another unconventional aspect of thatched roofs. Norfolk reed is harvested annually and the best quality reed is more available during certain seasons in different parts of the world. Also, the limited availability of qualified thatchers extends installation time once work has commenced. Usually a lead time of two to three months is sufficient, and most average-sized residences can be thatched in about a month.
If you are considering the unique features of thatch for your home or business, contact us at New World Thatchers, a subsidiary of “The Roofers” at Commonwealth Roofing. There is not another company like this one in the country.
