The day is split into 2 different and separate Courses:-         

An Introduction to Thatch & assessment for an EPC in the morning

Defects in Thatched Roofs and the Condition Rating of Thatched Roofs for a Home Condition Report in the afternoon

An Introduction to Thatch; A half day course.

This course is ideally suited to those people who need to have a greater understanding of thatch and how a thatched roof works.  Attendees will include  Home Inspectors, Domestic Energy Assessors and those training for these qualifications, Building Surveyors, Architects and Estate Agents.  Whilst this is an introduction to thatch a prior knowledge of old buildings is necessary.

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. 

At the end of the course attendees should have a greater insight into how a thatched roof works and how to identify the different materials.

This course is designed as a stand alone course but it will provide a good foundation for the Defects in Thatched Roofs Course.

Defects in Thatched Roofs and the Condition Rating of Thatched Roofs for a Home Condition Report. A half day course.      

This course follows on from the Introduction to Thatch course.  It is designed to equip specialist Home Inspectors and Building Surveyors with the knowledge to identify most defects in a thatched roof, to know what caused them and how to apply a Condition Rating to thatched roofs.  It is intended that a part of the course will be spent doing practical condition ratings on a selection of thatched roofs from photographs.  These defects will be wholly directed at the thatched roof and will not cover any other part of the building.  A prior knowledge of old buildings and thatch is necessary.

This will cover; external defects specific to thatched roofs that include:- chimneys, roof coverings, rainwater pipes and guttering, windows in thatch or dormers.  Internal defects include:- roof frames and ceilings.  It is intended that time will be spent doing practical condition ratings on a selection of thatched roofs from photographs.  We will discuss energy ratings for thatch.  Specific details on best practices employed in and around thatched roofs will be included.

By the end of the course attendees should have a reasonable understanding of defects in thatched roofs and be able to condition rate most thatched roofs for a building survey, an HCR and EPC.

Attendees should be able to identify the different materials, different methods of thatching, and have a basic knowledge of how thatch is fixed to a roof.  If you are not confident then you should come on the introduction to thatch course as well, there is a lot of information to take on board.

This course is designed as a stand alone course and there will be a minimal crossover of information with the Introduction to Thatch course.

Outline
These Powerpoint based courses are ideally suited to those people who need to have a greater understanding of thatch and how a thatched roof works.  It is designed to equip specialist Inspectors, Assessors and Surveyors with the knowledge to identify most defects in a thatched roof, to know what caused them and how to apply a Condition Rating to thatched roofs and to assess a thatched roof for an EPC.

There will be a model of a thatched roof, examples of different fixings, and materials

Please email me an expression of interest if you would like to attend either of the above courses. 

Contact: Charles on 01837 811278 or email thatchcourses@thatchedhomeinspector.co.uk