Fixings

Various fixings are used for holding the thatch to the roof. Metal rods are universally used horizontally to hold the thatch materials in place secured by:

1) Some thatchers still crook to timbers, the drawback to crooks are that there is potential to split rafters and the result is stress placed on the roof structure. The "banging," also causes damage to ceilings in some cases.

2) Thatchers have moved on to using stainless steel screws and wires with the metal rod. The screw fixes into the battens causing less stress to timbers than crooks.

3) Spars are used when the roof is stripped to a firm foundation. Both plastic and wood spars are used as fixings for coatwork.

4) Wooden spars of Hazel or Willow are used to hold on coatwork and for ridging. They are also used with liggers to form patterns on some Longstraw and Combed Wheat Reed.

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