Exhibiting and demonstrating at Ecobuild – Excel London

Ecobuild – Excel London

Imagine our excitement when we were invited by the Natural Builders to join them at Ecobuild this March.  What an opportunity to spread the word about thatch, its sustainability and natural properties which make it such a renowned roofing material.  Architects, Builders, Owners, Developers and natural builders amongst the visitors we met.

Read about our experience, our natural building friends and more pictures.

Even better, we have been invited back next year!!!  Watch this space

Thatch Thursdays were added for all the months.
Progress articles on the preparation and attendance at Ecobuild and a page (per previous section above)
Call for more specialists to join us on the Thatch Directory following the increased enquiries from Ecobuild for example our Web site visitor numbers doubled!.
Input from a Master Member of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps was gratefully received and reported upon.
More pictures of tools and equipment have been added.
A Moss and lichens page has been added as promised

Not to mention all the planning and collection of pictures ready for the future updates.

Facebook continues to be our main focus, with regular updates from the world of thatch. Join us for a variety of ‘thatch’ related posts – or put up some of your own on our wall, pictures of lovely thatch design or related articles on fire, insurance, new build or old are all appreciated by our friends.  Interesting videos, pictures and information relevant to thatch all are posted

Increasing numbers of Twitter followers means we are also improving our Tweets and engagement.  Follow us and tweet and retweet.  #thatch #thatchadvice #thatching for starters along with #ThatchThursday.   Takes a bit of time to understand all this new stuff!!

So much recent debate has been on how long a thatched roof lasts.

There’s been discussion on the provenance and storage of materials, which is understood as a contributory factor, but we have mentioned before the problems with proving this and the potential associated costs involved in tracking such materials which would surely have to be passed to the thatcher and ultimately the property owner.  It may not be so difficult to monitor in the UK  but it is believed that with foreign reed, or even straw and spars,  it would be harder to prove what has happenened to it.

The life of the roof is not just about the material quality e.g. how they were grown, nitrogen levels and moisture,  but
there are other very important factors which affect the lifespan of the roof.

• Skill of the thatcher applying the thatch and his knowledge of good and bad materials.
• Aspect of the Roof.
• Roof pitch.
• Trees and shade/sheltering of the roof from drying.
• Weather conditions – recent warm wet winters not ideal.
• Breathability of the roof and building.

So longevity is not an exact science but the application of the best that can be achieved in all of the above points to attempt to maximise the lifespan of the thatch.

It’s also quite handy if you can deter the pests……vermin and birds can also, sadly, affect longevity of your roof!

Everyone is proud of their thatch, or a picture they have taken of their thatch, promote it with us!

We have decided to run a thatch picture competition (international) with various categories:-

1  Cute cottage (s)
2  New thatched building
3  Listed Thatch
4  Pub, Hotel,  B&B or business
5  Thatching in progress
6  Interesting and unusual thatch

The winner of each category will get a fabulous bespoke, and made especially for our competition,  chocolate prize from Chocolate Craft.

Their chocolates are hand made, supplied to customers such as Fortnum and Masons and are absolutely delicious.

To enter you will need to supply your own photograph(s) of the thatch along with the category and any details you want to provide, where it is etc and you can enter as many pictures as you like.   Don’t forget to include it along with your name, full address and postcode.  Email entries to Claire@thatchadvicecentre.co.uk .

In entering this competition, you agree for any picture supplied to be used by the Thatch Advice Centre.  Any pictures selected will be credited to yourself, so for example thatchers, builders or architects may well get the benefit that their work appearing on the websites, newsletters or social media.

The first category 1 Cute Cottage or Cottages, deadline for entries is noon on Monday 20th June 2016.

Entries for other categories can be received at any time and their cut off dates will be in future newsletters, and social media.

Good luck and happy snapping.

Sky Lanterns continue to be banned by more Councils which, due to the risk to thatched properties, we welcome.

The arts and heritage fund kindly updated us, not the best news but we hope to update the website too.  No surprises but sadly they say the chances of getting a grant to help with re-thatching are pretty slim.

Moss and Lichen page is now up on the website.

Too many thatch fires recently, we will be definitely putting pen to paper (or words to the internet!) on this topic.

Please keep sweeping chimneys regularly, burn seasoned wood, take care whilst lighting.  If you have a wood burner and a low chimney take extra care, think about fire retardant spray like Magma Firestop, and check your insurance cover.  Also check if chimney has not been used recently for any birds nests.

Whilst giving us some great information on chimneys, Andrew kindly gave us this tale which we thought we would share in this Newsletter.

“I was talking to one of my more learned village thatch dwelling customers during last year and was amazed to discover the reason for the demise of many thatched properties many years ago.  He told me that before farm mechanisation most of threshing etc in the fields was powered by steam engines which were powered of course by coat and that sparks from these were responsible for burning down many homes in his village.

I have also seen large steam engines powering huge circular saw blades and producing, amongst other things, 12″ square long lengths of timber from a tree trunk, whilst at a Lincolnshire agricultural show.  These beams were probably back then produced near to where the timber was to be used.  I cant help thinking now that this may have been an excellent job creation scheme!!!”

We have had a couple of enquires recently which had alerted us to a potential problem.

When insurers take details on properties to give cover, they ask questions about certain areas, eg if chimneys have been swept, reduction on premium if fire retardant spray has been applied or a fire barrier, recent electric check etc.  Often this is just a tick in a box.

Magma Firestop Distributors recently were asked to re-spray a property by the homeowner (a new build from a few years previously). This property had not been sprayed although a quote had been given to the builder.  A note of caution to both the insured and the insurer.  If you are buying – get the proof from the vendors on what they say has been done to the property and what checks etc have been done and by whom.  If you are insuring, do the same and ask for the up to date Treatment Certificate, or electrical certificate etc.  It then gives peace of mind all round and, should a claim be made saves any fuss.

SMF Crouch and Co Ltd

One of our primary thatching and fire retardant specialists who have supported and assisted the Thatch Advice Centre from day one, ten years ago.

Simon Crouch is an independent Master Thatcher, who has trained over 8 thatchers – the majority of whom are still working in the craft.  Traditionally trained in the New Forest over 5 years he attended the courses at Knusten Hall and was fully certificated in all three main thatching materials.

He has built up a large thatching firm with excellent reputation which works nationwide and is the UK distributor of Magma Firestop fire retardant spray as well as developing the truly breathable Thatch-Safe fire barrier which achieved LABC system approval.  Recent works include cottages, public houses and even spraying Magma on Richard Bransons Necker Island and advising, thatching and spraying fire retardant on the Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand.

From Robbie Burns Cottage in Scotland to new builds in Hampshire he still enjoys the challenges and says “I have no intention of retiring for a while yet!”

His experience and knowledge were invaluable at Ecobuild and we look forward to his continued help in the future with the Thatch Advice Centre.  He sees helping us as giving something back to the trade.

We have been promoting proven up to date fire safety advice for thatched properties for several years. Insurers, Historic England, some fire services and many thatchers are amongst those who are with us understanding that so far all evidence points to ejected embers from the chimneys being the number one culprit.

How pleased are we to note that the National Society and many Fire Services are catching up.  The on going work and testing has, so far, confirmed the embers problem and it is hoped that soon more information and results will be available to further help our understanding of what is happening.

Promotion of this information among interested parties is part of what we strive to do, and it seems to be working.  Keep the information about thatch fires and causes, research etc, coming in to us and we will continue to press for greater understanding of the risks so that we all can reduce them and the number of thatched fires.

Two thatch fires in the last two days!. After Christmas seems to be a bad time, maybe chimneys need sweeping, perhaps it was a nest or a faulty flue.  Let us understand and educate…. everyone.  We must keep going and all work together and ‘sing off the same hymn sheet’ if we are to truly make a difference.  Leave individual glory behind and help us keep the progress positive and relevant.  We are so proud that our tenacity is starting to pay off.

We understand that it takes a while for peoples ideas to adapt to different information, especially in larger organisations but we hope we can continue to facilitate this amongst our 1000s of subscribers and social medial contacts and reduce the risks for many more properties.  Help us to help you by sharing, re-tweeting and even talking to people!

Anyone thinking of buying a property, or insuring a property may need the help of a surveyor.

Our Thatch Directory has links to searching for RICS Chartered Surveyors to assist you.  Building, Quantitiy or Structural depending on your requirements.   One of the areas we have found is people needing to give accurate rebuild costs.  Many surveyors can do this up to the rafters then are a bit lost when it comes to costing the thatched roof.

We have offered to help with costing websites when it comes to the thatch, whether it be Water Reed, Combed Wheat or Longstraw but so far this has not yet been possible.  This was also a discussion point raised by some of our Eco-build visitors.

In the meantime, feel free to contact us for indicative pricing to assist you with this information, whether you are surveyors or thatched property owners, we are happy to help.  Roof area or pictures will be helpful.

Friend and followers, they are all our ‘mates’ and contributions from them well received and welcome.

At the moment with the spate of thatch fires (three we know of in the last three days), sharing information with and from the Fire Service, insurers, chimney sweeps and property owners is so helpful in understanding and promoting good fire safety practice.  Regular #TestitTuesday reminders are a part of what we do as social media is a great forum for sharing information in a timely way.  Keep at it folks!!

The original Globe Theatre was the first purpose-built playhouse in London – built by the actor/manager James Burbage in 1576.  Due to an insurance dispute, the theatre was demolished and rebuilt across the river.  It burned to the ground in 1613 when wadding from a stage cannon ignited the thatched roof and was quickly rebuilt, but with a tiled roof.  The Globe Theatre was reconstructed for the third time in 1997 with a thatched roof.

In planning new pages and we have a huge file full of ideas, but as a growing thatch community we thought we would ask what things you would like us to add/cover on the website so that, wherever possible, we can factor it into our planning.  Everyone’s time is limited, so this will help us to make the best use of our time.

The response and feedback we get makes us think we are on the right track, this is just to help keep us there.

Many thanks in anticipation.

We offer free up to date advice and info. on all things thatch.

Please spread the word, easy to join us  sign up from the website or follow us on social media.

In planning new pages and we have a huge file full of ideas, but as a growing thatch community we thought we would ask what things you would like us to add/cover on the website so that, wherever possible, we can factor it into our planning.  Everyone’s time is limited, so this will help us to make the best use of our time.

The response and feedback we get makes us think we are on the right track, this is just to help keep us there.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Thatch Directory Categories – Phase I

Our site has one clear list of categories so it is easy to find help.  We are looking for proven services to join us.  References are required.

·  Architects
·  Builders
·  Building Surveyors
·  Chimney & Flue Specialists
·  Chimney Sweeps
·  Electrical Engineers
·  Fire Safety Products & Supplies
·  Garden Buildings
·  Health and Safety
·  Insurance
·  Leadworkers
·  Master Thatchers
·  Organisations/Publications
·  Preservation & Pest Control
·  Quantity Surveyors
·  Reed & Straw Dealers
·  Scaffolding
·  Security
·  Solicitors
·  Solid Fuel & Heating Supplies
·  Specialist Builders
·  Specialist Building Materials
·  Structural Surveyors
·  Thatched Hospitality
·  Thatching Supplies
·  Timber Framed Builders
·  Tools & Equipment Hire
·  Tree Surgeons

The Next Newsletter

Chimneys
Updates
Thatch Tale
Buying and Selling Thatch
Competition winner (1)
Famous Thatch

and  more…..