Welcome to the Thatched Home Inspector website. This is a primary resource for Building Surveyors, Residential Surveyors, Domestic Energy Assesssors and Building Professionals who need to find out more about Thatch, edited by a Master Thatcher.

The Understanding Thatched Roofs course includes the Introduction to Thatch and Identifying Defects in Thatched roofs for Condition Rated and Full Building Surveys.

Next RICS Training Courses - Understanding Thatched Roofs:

Hampshire on 30th November 2011. -- Course confirmed --

Suffolk on 25th November 2011 -- Course confirmed --

Click here for details

Thatched Roof surveys - Ring or email for more information.

I am a qualified Home Inspector, and I can undertake surveys for Home Condition Surveys and Energy Performance Certificates for all types of domestic properties excluding System build. I do specialise on Thatched houses, Cob and Stone Rubble houses and older property.

I have 3 courses on this website:

Hands On ~ Weekend Thatching course  As a retired Master Thatcher I do have specialist knowledge about Thatch. This course is more of an unusual weekend break but you will be thatching. My next course will now be in the summer of 2012. Please email me to go on the list. Thatch Courses

Introduction to Thatch: 9.30 - 12.15.

This is a general introduction to Thatch in the UK. This will cover some history of thatch, the materials used, regional styles, the different methods of thatching; Combed Wheat Reed, Long Straw and Water reed, ridging techniques, some roof construction, tools and fixings, how to recognise the different materials, fire precautions, factors affecting the life of thatch and its maintenance. Specific details on best practices employed in and around thatched roofs will be included. We will discuss energy ratings for thatch.

Defects in Thatched Roofs and How to Condition rate a Thatched Roof for a Homebuyer Report or Building Survey. 2.15 - 5.00

This will cover:- External defects specific to thatched roofs that include: chimneys, roof coverings, rainwater pipes & guttering, windows in thatch & dormers. Internal defects include: roof frames and ceilings.

Time will be spent doing practical condition ratings on a selection of thatched roofs from photographs.

Current Courses in Devon

Understanding Thatched Roofs course.

courses@thatchedhomeinspector.co.uk

Thatch training for Surveyors and Domestic Energy Assessors.

Current training about Thatch for Home Inspectors and Domestic Energy Assessors is minimal and quite often the generalised assumptions of the depth of thatch and life spans of thatch are wrong.

Home Buyers Surveys on Thatched properties should only be performed by competent Surveyors with specialist knowledge about Thatch. Older buildings that are constructed of traditional materials (Cob, stone rubble, old timber frame etc) require Surveyors that have specialist experience in vernacular building techniques and to have received specialist training. For newer thatched properties specialist training is also necessary due to various methods of fire protection that are now incorporated in the construction of the building.

RdSAP & Thatched Properties

The RdSAP 9.82 review makes EPC's on properties with a thatched roof very much easier and reflects the insulation value of the thatch material. Here is a breakdown of the changes:-

New roof type = Thatch

The roof is pitched.

Insulation is at the rafters (any loft insulation at ceiling level is ignored and there will be no thickness of thatch required).

The following U values have been assigned to thatch. This has been considerably simplified where a standard figure covers all thatching materials used and ignors the thickness of the thatch.

Horizontal ceiling and standard loft will have a "U value" of 0.35W/m2K

Sloping ceiling (Room in roof) will have a "U value" of 0.25W/m2K.

Software generated recommendations.

Solar panels and photovoltaic panels are not recommended for thatched properties.

Where there is existing loft insulation there will not be a recommendation to top up, and where there is no loft insulation there will be no recommendation to install any. There can be potential interstitial condensation problems where loft insulation is fitted.