Dorset, Somerset & Wiltshire Master Thatchers - Paul Swannack

Water Reed - This material is very hard and has the longest lifespan of all the thatching materials. There are always exceptions to the rule. New properties are thatched in this material because it gives the most cost effective roof to customers. To change to this material on a listed building would require Listed Building Consent. Water Reed roofs are generally straighter and less rounded looking than the other materials. It can be applied to look like Wheat Reed. Life expectancy of a water reed thatched roofing by a good quality craftsmen using quality materials should last 30 to 35 years. It is applied in a similar way as wheat straw using a legget, and dressed into position often fixed using hazel spars or screw fixings

Wheat Straw - Combed wheat is processed and threshed by passing the material through a comber. This removes the leaf and grain producing uncrushed stems which can then be laid onto the roof and dressed into position. Life expectancy of a thatched roof in Britain thatched with wheat reed by a good quality craftsmen using quality materials should last 20 to 25 years .It is applied in a similar way as water reed using a legget, and dressed into position often fixed using hazel spars or screw fixings.