The main factors are.
How long should a thatched roof last.
It is an all purpose thatched roof material that can be used to complete nearly any design.
Generally speaking though the lifespan of water reed thatch is about 30 years combed wheat is about 30 years and straw is about 20 years.
However over a long period the two methods work out as having a similar cost in both time and materials.
Combed wheat reed from 25 to 35 years.
You ll pay 250 to 600 per square for a wood shingle roof and warranties run up to 30 years.
But the thatch only has a short lifespan a few years instead of several decades.
The materials used on your thatched roof can contribute to the lifespan of it.
The ridges however are likely to need attention every 8 to 10 years.
It s not unknown for thatched roofs with regular maintenance to last up to 60 years though.
Good quality straw thatch can last several years when applied by a skilled thatcher.
Its lifespan is typically 20 to 25 years.
Many thatched house owners have been told that their roofs should last 30 40 years but it is hard to put an exact lifespan on a thatched roof as each thatched roof will vary depending on different factors.
Moisture is not typically absorbed into thatched bundles any deeper than 1 or 2 inches whereas thatched roofs are typically 12 inches deep.
As you can see different kinds of materials have longer life expectancies than others.
The pitch of a thatched roof is also important as it allows water to run off and be thrown well away from the property before it has chance to be absorbed.
High humidity and wind also affect the lifespan of the thatch.
In cases of roofs with dormers and valleys the dormers and valleys will wear before the main coat due to having a lower pitch.
So how long should you expect your thatched roof to last.
The pitch the steeper the pitch faster the roof can shed water.
The lifespan of a thatch roof depends on a variety of factors including the type of thatch the ability of the roof to shed water which depends on the pitch of the roof and the climate of the region.
Should the climate be hot 30 degrees plus and high humidity the conditions for fungal growth is good and leads to deterioration of the roof in a far shorter time.
An average life span for the thatch layer under normal climatic conditions in sa is approximately 20 years.
A well installed thatched roof that has been constructed using good quality materials is likely to stay serviceable for anywhere up to 50 years.
Water reed thatch should last from 25 to 40 years.
Ridges need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years.
A roof takes days instead of weeks to complete.
One thing to note is that a roof ridge typically lasts no longer than 15 years regardless of the material used to construct it.
