Thatched properties come with a slightly higher cost of insurance due to a higher fire risk, they also have a more expensive rebuild value than conventional houses because they’ve been built using specific materials by specialists, there are only 800 master thatchers in the country after all! That being said, whilst there are specialist insurance companies you can go for, such as the NFU, many standard home insurance companies will still offer you a policy. It’s important to have your roof inspected regularly, just like you would your boiler or car, the better maintained you keep it, the longer it will last! Insurance The ridge of a thatch needs replacing every 10-15 years, this costs usually £150-£200 per foot.

Thatched roofs need maintenance, even after a new thatch has been put on. The cost includes sourcing the materials and the labour involved in putting it all together. It’s important to note each thatcher is different and therefore prices will vary. Thatches will usually charge by the square (10 ft × 10 ft) so if you’re looking for ball-park figures and a rough estimate, an average price would be about £700 per square. Water reed thatch should last at least 30 years, but often 40-50 years, and sometimes longer! This is the longest-lasting type of thatched roof. Water Reed – Water reed is a wetland plant, which was historically maintained to provide for thatching purposes. Combed wheat reed thatched roofs should last upwards of 30 years. It is known as reed because of its similarity to water reed in appearance and in the way it is laid on the roof.

Long straw thatched roofs will last around 20-30 years.Ĭombed Wheat Reed – As with long straw, this type of thatch is based on cereal straw, usually wheat.

Long Straw – Once the most common type of thatch in the UK, the basic material for long straw is a cereal straw, usually wheat but sometimes rye. The straw you see on top of these houses weren’t just plonked there in the 1700s, it has to be redone every few decades! There are a number of different types of thatches and this will dictate how often you will need to fork out for a new one. In 1800 there were approximately 950,000 thatched buildings in England, but by 1960 this number had dropped to 35,000. Sadly, from the start of the 19th Century, there was a steep decline in the number of thatched buildings. The word ‘thatch’ is Anglo-Saxon in origin and simply meant roof covering, it is thought to be one of the oldest building techniques in the world and there is no surprise that East Anglia, home to the Anglo Saxons, is covered in thatched buildings. Hopefully, this article will help you decide whether you do or don’t want a thatched roof and if you do, it’ll guide you on all the things you need to look out for! Thatched cottages look lovely, don’t they? And they are! But before you plunge into buying one, there are a lot of things you need to know! I am currently on the hunt for a period property in the UK to buy and turn into my very own home and my heart is currently set on a 3 bedroom thatch.

Cost of thatched roofs