A recently completed project in the Test Valley, Hampshire, England
Every thatcher will tell you that they're "the best." Maybe they have the most skill, the most experience, the best method, the best team, the quickest process, or the cheapest price. In some area at least, they are likely to excel.
What not many thatchers will discuss with you is something that we consider the most important factor of all when it comes to how long your thatched roof will last: the materials used.
A thatcher is only as good as the material he uses.
The sad fact is that as soon as your newly thatched roof is finished, the elements will begin their gradual process of wear and tear.
The sun will beat down on it.
The rain will beat down on it, too!
The wind will pick at the edges and in winter, ice will form on your roof and then thaw out. Snow and hail can also damage the thatch, even if we don't seem to get it so often these days.
The vast majority of the thatching material that is available on the market is mass-produced, using chemicals and limited crop rotation. This speeds the growing process and keeps costs low, but it doesn't produce material that will be resilient over the longer term on your roof.
When I speak with thatched property owners in the Test Valley, they often enquire: "Can I see a project you have done recently?"
My reply is always: "Wouldn't you rather look at something we did 30 years ago?!"
The reason for this is simple. Because we organically grow all of our own thatching material, on our own farm in Hampshire, we have complete control of the process from start to finish. We spare no effort in ensuring that the quality is as high as it is possible for a natural product to be.
That's why we have projects that were completed 30+ years ago that are still performing their task of protecting the property and the occupants so well.
There will be another blog post soon going into more detail about how we produce the materials, but if you have any questions or if you would like a free estimate to thatch your property in the finest materials this country has ever produced, please do get in touch - we'll be happy to help you!