If you are a thatch house owner you may have had various lifespans for materials told to you. They normally state that water reed will last 50-60 years and combed wheat straw will last 30-35 years. This can occasionally be the case, however with the rise in climate change and more vehicle emissions these old timescales need revising.
Rarely do I see a water reed roof go past 40 years or a straw roof go past 25.
One way to make sure you get the maximum lifespan from your roof is to maintain it. All to often I see thatch roofs that may have survived 10 or 20 years longer, if only there had been a regular maintenance plan in place. This could just involve the removal of moss build up at an early stage, or a small patch to keep an even water flow from the roof.
I recommend having a roof check every 2 years, we can spot things before they become a major issue and put it right, making sure you get the most out of your thatch.
Think of it like a car. A car will last you 20 years, but you will need many services for it to last that long.
Having regular thatching maintenance and minor roof repairs can help prevent small issues before they evolve into problems that cut short the life of your thatched roof.
If you require further information on our thatch maintenance services and roof repairs, please contact us here. We also offer a thatch removal and replacement service for houses based in Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas.