Sometimes referred to as Norfolk reed; Water reed has been used as a thatching material in the UK for centuries. It is also the primary thatching material in Europe.
Water reed can be grown in many climates and countries including Austria, Ukraine, and China. Any place where reed beds can be found around rivers is a potential source of water reed. Irrespective of where it comes from, there is always variance in the material from length to diameter and also the amount of tapering. These are the factors that affect which bundles of material are used on the roof.
Selecting and using the appropriate material for each individual roof will be down to the skill of the master thatcher.
Water Reed is often regarded as the longest-lasting material for a thatched roof, with some water reed roofs lasting up to 50 years. However, the Lifespan of the roof depends on the production of the material and its characteristics e.g. size, hardness of stem etc.
Norfolk Reed is primarily produced in Norfolk, for use, unsurprisingly, in and around Norfolk. Cost of production and limitations on how much can be sourced are factored into price and availability. It’s an unfortunate fact that there’s not enough water reed being produced in this country to meet the high demand.
If you’re interested in having a water read thatched roof installed, get in touch here. Or take a look at our other thatching materials.
