Thatched Roofs - Is there still an argument to use Thatch instead of other materials?

Here at PAPAUK we have recently been asked to review the roof of a house in Cheshire, constructed in the 1980's, now in need of a replacement thatch. The discussion of the pros and cons of thatched roofing is capably covered by the Heart of England Master Thatchers and there cannot really be a more sustainable product than using naturally grown and harvested reeds for your roofing material. But a product that might only last up to 40 years, quite often less, and which requires a new ridge every ten years, all at a real premium cost as it it requires a good deal of specialist skill to install, surely is now thoroughly outdated.

On pitched roofs, natural slates and clay plain tiles are still regularly being re-used on conservation and restoration projects, and the re-claimed tiles are quite often well-over 100 years old with only the odd slipped tile to replace. Even concrete tiles which are inferior to natural products but a budget alternative, can last well over 50 years with minimal maintenance.

And so the argument for thatch really has to be compelling to persuade PAPA that it is the right solution. The technology is now 1000 years old, we do need to bow to progress, and albeit thatching is a valuable and historic skill the place for it should really be for restoration of historic thatched properties, certainly not in new-build.

‍