Thatched roof with own hands: an overview, description, scheme and reviews

Recently, the trend of construction of ecologically clean houses is becoming more popular. If you also want to follow fashion trends, then thatched roof can complement your home.

Description

A few years ago it would be amazing to see a roof of straw on elite buildings, but today it is no longer a rarity. Such a choice of many consumers is due to environmental friendliness, excellent thermal insulation and ease of material. In houses with thatched roof, a comfortable atmosphere is always maintained and dust does not accumulate. The material is able to retain heat well and is no worse than modern roofing.

Despite the fact that the thatched roof has a rather impressive thickness that reaches 30 centimeters, it weighs a bit. The square meter is only 40 kilograms. After completion of work, the under-roof space is reliably protected from meteorological conditions. In order to increase the moisture resistance of the structure, the material is impregnated with water-repellent compositions before laying. Masters do not have to equip the hydro- and vapor-insulating layers, since the straw is characterized by excellent hygroscopic properties.

Review of positive characteristics

Before you start building a house and laying a straw roofing, you need to learn more about its features. Among the positive, cheapness can be noted, which makes straw so popular among consumers. Due to a significant slope of the roof, which is 50 degrees, water and other natural precipitation do not stay on the surface. This excludes their penetration inside. The life of such coatings is quite long, the roof can be used up to 30 years and more, and it will not require repair.

Overview of shortcomings

Thatched roof also has some disadvantages, among them it is worth paying attention to the fire hazard. In order to avoid the possibility of accidental ignition, the material is treated with flame retardants before laying. Those masters who already were engaged in installation works where the described material was involved, note high labor input. Among other things, if you are accustomed to change the shape and color of the roof from time to time, the straw will not be the best option.

Customer Reviews

According to users, the thatched roof was originally made from rye straw. Today, you can find designs made from wild-growing cereals, namely fescue, fire, timothy, reed, leaf-tail and the like. Roofs from reeds are quite common, which, according to consumers, is used quite often due to the long length of the stems and their flexibility.

Home masters are advised to remember that the complexity of the installation work will be supplemented by the need to prepare the material on its own. For this, the plants are cut with a sickle, and if the tool is not found, then a rather sharp knife can be used. In order to give the canvas the necessary bend, it should be processed with a sharpener. Some well beat off the blades, which allows you to get notches that help to cut the stem. If you want to build a house under a thatched roof, then the preparation of the material for the roof must be made in dry weather in the middle of summer. When you plan to use reeds, you can prepare meadow grasses with it, which can be used as an auxiliary roofing material.

Schemes of sheaves fixing to the base

The thatched roof of the hut can be mounted according to several schemes, one of which provides for the use of wire piercing technology. The second involves additional use of screws. The following techniques are accompanied by the use of nails or constrictions. In the first case, a special needle must be used, into which the wire is threaded. If the sheaves will perform the role of the ceiling and the roof, then the manipulations must be made by enlisting the help of the second person. One master will guide the needle from the inside, while the second will be engaged in the firmware from the outside. If the building has a ceiling, then the method can be more time consuming. Access to the roof from the inside will be eliminated, so you can use a rounded kind of needle that has special rings. The wire is fixed to the last ones.

Recommendations for the use of screws and wire

Before you make a thatched roof, you need to decide which layout to use. It can provide the use of screws from the wire. This technology is not only simple, but also fast. Staples should be fixed to the crate or beams using screws. At the same time, you can get rid of the strapping under the roof, as it will not be necessary. The wire must be fastened in advance to the screws, which will ensure the required length of the material. If you do not have the opportunity to use the help of the second master, then you should choose this method, since the fastening can be done alone.

Method of flashing with nails or strings

Houses with a thatched roof are often stitched in the roof area with nails. This method can only be used on systems that are equipped with a strong crate. It must withstand the extra weight of fasteners, so the requirements for it are particularly stringent. Three kinds of nails should be prepared for work, the first one should have a length of 300 millimeters, it should be used to fix the sheaves from the middle of the roof. The second kind of nails has a length of 250 millimeters and is fixed to the middle. The third species is the smallest, its length is 200 millimeters, these fasteners should be used for cornice.

Nails are selected in such a way that the shape is the same for all sizes, one end of the element should be sharpened, while the other is made in the form of a hook. As a decorative decoration of the roof, the most common use of the firmware is a neck strap. To carry out this work is necessary through small pieces of wire, wood or stems of bamboo.

Technology Overview

When the thatched roof is equipped with its own hands, the work should begin with the preparation of sheaves. They are knit, using bundles of straw, which are called "binder". These elements are used for dressing the prepared material. In order for the coating to be aesthetic and neat, the sheaves should be made the same size. They measure their handfuls, for the roof of the house will need about 8 guests. If the arbor or veranda is blocked, the number should be reduced by 2 times. Prepared and well-measured bundles of straw should be spread out on a flat surface, and then tied with a moist bond. It is recommended to start installation work in windless weather. In order to simplify the task, the material can be sprinkled with water. It is necessary to start laying from the first row, single sheaves are laid in it, but you can tie the elements together by two. They will differ in density and strength. Adherence to the roof is quite strong and aesthetic.

Methods of work

Can overlap in this way, and a gazebo, thatched roof at the same time will be just as strong and waterproof. Before fixing the material on the roof, it is prepared. To do this, each sheaf should be placed on a solid foundation in such a way that the knuckle part extends beyond the edge. Then the material should be combed using a board with nails stuffed into it. In the process of these manipulations from the sheaf, it will be possible to remove broken straws and all kinds of branches, as well as other debris. Applying a special spatula, the sheaf should be taped on the ends and aligned. Only after that it can be lifted to the roof.

The nuances of laying the material

Experienced builders argue that to cover such a roof, without using outside help, will not work. One master must feed the sheaves from below, while the rest fix them on the roof. The material should be laid as tightly as possible, the row along which the rest will be oriented should be very even. In order to eliminate errors, you can make a marking of the roof or pull the rope. The number of sheaves that will be needed for laying on the roof can be easily calculated. For this purpose, a meter is measured on the ground, sheaves are laid out on it, which will make it possible to count how many elements come out. After you measure the length of the roof, you will be able to determine the required amount of material.

In all subsequent rows, unbundled bundles should be laid, which are pressed by slats-attempts. Fix them to the base with ropes or wicker rods. In some cases, a soft aluminum wire is used. To give the system special strength and reliability under the layer of reeds, it is possible to lay meadow grasses.

Conclusion

The finished roof should look uneven, as each row forms a small step. Some owners of their own homes leave the roof in this form, believing that it gives the house an attraction. But traditionally, steps can be aligned with the help of a special comb, which is made of boards with cut-outs on one side and nails on the other. Before starting work, many masters are wondering about what is called a thatched roof. In different localities there are different names, namely: knitting, a tie or a sling.