Thatched Roof

[PenguinPandas]

Anyone had work done on a thatched roof.

We have thatched cottage around 100sq metres in size with thatched roof - water reed - been told back half needs rethatching and been quoted £20k plus vat plus scaffholding. Being asked for deposit and work starts in 2 years time. Getting another quote but is this normal range? Thanks

That’s reasonsble value. Prices vary a lot and Reed is more expensive than straw. Around me you are looking at upwards of £35,000 for a whole roof. What is the other half like?

I would get more than one quote though. Also ask when they can do the work this year. Some thatchers have an 18 month waiting list! They also price a bit lower to get work if they have a slot. Therefore prices vary.

Thanks very much - Front half is in good condition (think it was redone on its own though lady we bought from went into nursing home so son just told us best he knew) I think front was rethatched in 2000 definitely with water reed but work also done later, reridging / tidy up in 2007 at front, not sure about back but moss in places and looks patchy. All these terms are new to me so maybe using them wrongly.

I did wonder what price difference would be to do whole lot but presume thatcher thinks not worth it as he didn't suggest that but may ask out of curiosity and to know what other bills maybe getting in future. They've got a 2 year waiting list but he said it doesn't need doing for 2 years and that also suits us as still have to sell our other house.

We are getting a second thatcher in this weekend. The first one was recommended to us by neighbour with thatched roof, second one looks fine too so will be interesting to see what he quotes. We are in Cambridgeshire.

I only have a thatched summerhouse but after 15 years it sagged a bit and had moss on it! I managed to find a young man in an extended family of thatchers (there are thatching families!) who repaired it over a number of weekends whilst working on whole roofs with other family members during the week. We used straw though and I’m fairly certain that’s cheaper than reed. The other quote I got was huge and they were booked up for 18 months. We had the same problem when the summerhouse was thatched in the first place. It’s difficult to get a thatcher!

I think a good thatch will last at least 25-30 years plus but you need to factor in restoring and repairs. I think reed lasts longer. See what another quote looks like. Our restoring quotes were wildly different but I could only get one for the original thatch because no one else could do it fairly quickly and it was a new building. Black sheeting for 18 months on the roof didn’t appeal. Silly me for wanting it thatched! Looks great though and I am glad we did it.

Thanks very much - wouldn't be surprised if it is more for water reed as it lasts the longest. I love the thatched roof and always wanted one but was a bit too in love when bought and didn't fully research it. Still would have bought at price we did and passed survey fine. Interesting quotes vary a lot. We aren't in massive rush so can wait but was surprised there was a shortage, did tell DH he should change jobs!

Think the ones DH spoke too grew and harvested crops themselves, whole new world.

Reed is traditionally Norfolk Reed. We had very long straw from Poland. As it’s a garden building it seemed a bit ott tongo with the best! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the thatch being done though. As you have been quoted quite a long wait time, it seems good thatchers are in demand and that certainly mirrors what we found.

I don’t think many people learn it from scratch and operate as sole traders. However, never say never!

Well other thatcher came over and said not interested as we are in village and would disrupt our neighbours and try a bigger thatching company. Bit of an odd reply but guess they can pick and choose and we aren't rural enough. The neighbours all have thatched cottages and love any excuse to make conversation so doubt they will care. We got two street party invites this weekend alone and there's only about 10 houses