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I am about to start a spring project: construction of a small cottage (play house) for the kids which will be located in a small ‘forest’ out back. Because of the image I would like to create, I would like to roof the cottage in thatch. However, I would like to avoid using actual straw to thatch the roof. Rather, I am looking for suggestions for a natural or synthetic product that will have the look of thatch while providing increased durability.
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Doug,
The material of choice is reed -- Turkey is the current supplier, I believe but where you'd get it from I don't know.
You might try Googling on thatching and thatchers -- I know there's at least one Brit firm working over here.
Durability -- a wheat straw thatch should last about 60 years -- a reed thatch about 100, how long do the kids expect to be using the playhouse?.
*Dear Ian, I like that answer.Doug, years ago FHb had an article on a "thatch" style roof done in cedar shingles. The builder worked the eaves and rake into a rounded forms. Then steam bent shingles to conform. To effect the layered look, many courses were stacked with less than an inch of exposure. The main field of the roof was rusticated with tight, wavy courses.Not a substitute for thatch, but it caught my eye, and very producible for a small structure.Cordially, Fred
*Once upon a time I found a web site for a thatcher working in this country---actually I think he was located in Ohio.Can't remember the adress---guess this doesn't help.
*There was a doco on BBC about an English team that was thatching a 'Wedding Barn' (whatever that is) in Texasand they regularly work in US during the UK winter months. They have a web-site and a source of materials here.Googling is advisable!I would be inclined to use an EPDM myself, with a layer of something suitably rustic fixed over the top.
*You may want to try an aluminum thatch. It is used extensively in Florida by the state, Disney and others. It is convincing unless you get quite close or touch it. Critters won't nest in it. It won't rot and it won't burn.http://www.thatchart.com/Sounds like I sell the stuff. I don't but I was impressed by an installation I saw. Until I actually touched it I wasn't sure it was artificial. Before this I had wondered how the theme parks, Tiki lounges, etc could have thatch and keep the fire inspectors happy.
*4Lorn,Thanks for the information and the web site. It does make the installation job look very straight forward. And answers a lots of questions regarding what is being used in commercial thatch roof applications. I will be interested to see if the aluminum thatching has been use in a northern climate where it has been exposed to real winter conditions.
Go to Fine Hombuilding's main site, and go to links. In one of the sections dealing with house construction is a link to a thatched roof service. (It takes too long from this computer to go there and get the link.)What's the difference between stupidity and ambivalence?
I don't know & I don't care