Island Life Magazine Ltd November/December 2005 | Page 45

CRAFTS

Ageless world of a
Master Thatcher

Telephone Steve Greenen on: 01983 822571
Mobile: [phone]

Glorious golden thatch is arguably the most attractive roofing material
going. It's almost certainly the oldest type of roofing still in regular
use in this country, and to homesick ex-patriots and Anglophiles the
world over, the snug look of a cosy collection of thatched homes
gathered round the village church still presents a vivid image of rural
England.
But thatch is far more than this. It is the archetypal roofing material. In
Britain, archaeologists have found evidence of buildings with straw roof
coverings dating back to 500 BC, and today there are known to be at
least 30,000 thatched buildings in England alone, some 24,000 of which
are listed. Far from being a dying craft, thatch is thriving.
Master Thatcher Steven Greenen has been thatching Island roofs for over
28 years, starting at the age of 14 by helping his uncle, a well-known
Island thatcher who has since retired. Steve loves his work, and even
after all these years, he still loves to stand back when he has finished a
job and admire the wonderful look of a thatched roof. Demand for his
craftsman service is so strong that he has to book jobs up to a year in
advance.
Steve explains that a thatched roof has the same substructure as a
normal roof, but that instead of laying roof tiles, reed or straw is used.
In previous times, more straw would have been used, but most roofs now
are re-laid with reed as it is stronger and lasts longer (anything up to 40
years whereas straw lasts 20 years). Reed also keeps the wildlife out
because it is much harder than straw.
If you are thinking of purchasing a thatched property you can always
call Steve to advise on the condition of the roof. However, as a quick
guide, the signs of a failing thatched roof are: gulleys forming in the
straw or reed, spires poking through, or maybe just a generally untidy
look. The roof itself can be either repaired or re-laid, and as a guide, the
average cost of re-laying a roof is around £7.00 per square foot. So an
average roof of 1600 sq ft would cost in the region of £12,000, and take
anywhere between 4-6 weeks to complete. One part of the roof that
would require replacing about every 10 years is the ridge, which takes
the brunt of the weather in the winter months.
When a roof is re-thatched, only the first two or perhaps three layers are
removed. Each layer is about 3-4 inches thick, so you can see some
buildings where the thatch is up to a hefty 3-4ft thick. It may look very
heavy but in fact, thatch is much lighter than standard roof tiles.
Apart from their chocolate box looks, thatched roofs provide good
insulation in the winter and keep the building cool in the summer, and
because the insurance market has become so competitive it is now no
longer a problem to insure, although it will always be slightly more
expensive than a conventional roof.

45