Pictures of beautiful British thatched homes

Thatch roof houses are quite common in rural UK. The making of thatch roof dates back to prehistoric times when first people started building their huts covering them with straws, reed or grass. Even the famous Globe theater, built in 1599 was with a thatch roof. However, the modern Globe theater has a thatch roof only for decorative purposes – underneath there is a fully waterproofed roof built with modern materials. In this article we will give you an overview of thatch homes but most importantly - beautiful pictures. 

In the middle of 20th century hatch roofs lost their appeal – brits began treating such houses as homes for poor. These were the bad times for the traditional roofing, especially in urban areas. Nowadays thatched homes are coming back into fashion – as eco friendly, sustainable way of building. The usual thatching material is wheat straw or reed - not only a renewable material, found locally (saving the planet from carbon emissions) but also a good insulator from the elements. And for those who want to get all the benefits without any weaknesses of natural material, there is synthetic thatch zoster, made mostly from polythene fibers that come with a strong U.V. resistant guarantee.

The revival of thatching is also partly due to a change in building regulations – fire hazards have been reduced and local authorities easier giving planning permissions to thatched new builds. Besides, there are more competitive insurance premiums, thatchers are better skilled, giving you higher quality than thirty years ago. There are very few such houses in London (only in Kingsbury) and no builders in London are building new thatched homes.

Owners, living in such houses, say “there is nothing like it”. In a modern build you get that feeling of coziness and romance but without the gloom that often comes with small old cottages and low beams that you may bump your head in. Well done thatched roof may last for 50 years. When it comes to renovating the old thatch, traditionally a new thatch layer is put on top of the old one. There are about 250 homes in UK with the oldest thatch layer dating back to the Middle Ages. Apart from the roof, such house refurbishments are done in very similar way as any property renovation, except workmen should never use an open flame near the roof, and nothing should be burnt that could fly up the chimney and ignite the surface of the thatch. Using spark arrestors is not advisable because they are easily blocked and reduce air flow, possibly causing more damage than good. 

So, there are few disadvantages: the perceived higher fire risk, resulting in higher insurance premiums, more work involved in making it – thus the overall building costs higher. Besides, birds can make damage to the roof – removing straws for their nests.

Thinking of making your home a better place? For your home refurbishment in London, free advice and quotes contact AZbuilders, builders in London.

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