Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Handy Mac, aka Don MacAlister, is our expert on household DIY issues
I have a thatched roof which is costing me a lot of money every year. I want to change it and rather use tiles or zinc. Please advise.
If I had a massive bank account and lived in an area where fire was unlikely, I would love a thatched roof house as I believe the look and the aroma cannot be beaten. Unfortunately, insurance premiums are higher.
Before deciding to change I would ask one of the leading thatching companies to give you an honest opinion about how much life is left in your thatch, as it is not just a case of replacing the thatch with something else. In most cases thatched roofs are constructed on gum poles which are not even in thickness and not level.
Because of the nature of thatch, it can follow the levels of the poles and is packed to look flat. This means a sub-frame has to be constructed over the poles to carry the new roofing material to ensure the roof is level. It would be easier to go with sheeting rather than tiles as less timber would be needed.
The other major problem is generally thatched roofs do not have a ceiling underneath, and the other materials you are thinking of need a ceiling.
None of the above are insurmountable problems, but it is not an easy task and not for the faint-hearted, and you may find you are not happy with the end result.
One problem associated with the change would be getting rid of the old thatch. This is not easy if your contractor has not worked with thatch before.
The amount of thatch on your roof is deceiving, and once it is not in bundles it bulks up to an amazing quantity which can take many days to cart away, not to mention the weeks you are going to spend getting all the last pieces out of your garden and around the house.