Roofing and Building Center

Thatching and Primitive Roofing Materials

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Samuel Cheeseman ----- Advertisement

Many natural materials are still used to construct roofs in less economically developed areas. Throughout history nature has provided roofing materials for all types of buildings with vegetation once being the primary source of building materials for all structures. Bamboo, sea grass, timber, bark, wheat, straw rushes and many types of leaves have all been used to a great extent in the past. All of these materials are still used today for building roofs.

Thatching

The process of constructing a roof using vegetation is known as thatching. There are many different thatching techniques that have developed over time in nearly all climates. The thatch roof is still the most common type of roof in many tropical environments where the necessary materials are available locally in large quantities and at low prices. Tropical thatch techniques are used in many holiday resorts to try and maintain a local, cultural feel. Examples include the palapa thatch and tiki thatch umbrellas and huts commonly placed on beaches and next to swimming pools.

Thatching was also the most popular roofing technique in the first European and American settlements and a large number of thatched roofs are still in use in Great Britain. These straw thatch roofs look great in small rural towns and villages where they complement the home and Garden Decor of the traditionally designed houses.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Primitive Roofing Materials

The use of locally sourced natural materials has many benefits. They are usually easily obtainable to homeowners and reasonably priced. If they are grown specifically to be sold as thatching then they can also be sustainable when managed correctly. Vegetation will blend in with the local surroundings far better than any manufactured materials will especially where many of the same roofs are used in one area. All types of primitive roofs are environmentally friendly as the materials are grown naturally and can be re-used or recycled when no longer needed. The performance of thatched roofs is also impressive. They can keep buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter due to their insulating abilities. Resistance to weathering is another benefit. When constructed by an experienced thatcher and maintained well, these roofs are waterproof and can very effectively withstand the destructive forces of strong winds.

The major weakness of a thatched roof made from vegetation is its increased fire risk. The problem is not that these roofs are more likely to catch fire but that once they do, the fire is much harder to extinguish. This is a large concern especially in built up areas and is a contributing factor to thatching being used so infrequently in many cities. The most important reason that thatched roof installation is not as common as it could be is that when compared to other roofing methods the thatching process is much more labour intensive and so very costly to complete. There also other problems such as susceptibility to decomposition, rotting and attack from fungus. The roofs can also sustain serious damage from birds and small mammals which would not be an issue with modern roofing materials.