Thatched Cottage.
Bob.
I am considering buying a thatched cottage and what I know about
thatched roofs you can write on a micro dot.
Firstly, if anybody could advise me as to what what problems I could
look for myself with the existing thatch, I don't know how old it is
and the present owners are unsure as they have only lived there for
about 4 years.
Secondly, is the life span comparable to that of a tiled roof and will
the thatch require regular (expensive) attention?
I appreciate that I am asking advise on a somewhat specialised
subject, but I would welcome any advise I can get about thatched roofs
and their problems.
Thanks in advanced.
Bob.
Steve Farrer
http://users.erols.com/mrthatch/faq.html
No mention of prices but will give a free quote.
This site is worth a look just for content.
This American site has prices in $, I think as usual if you call £'s For
$'s, it won't be far off.
http://www.roofthatchers.com/thatch.htm
Hope this helps.
Steve
Bob. <rsa...@dircon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:37a373fd...@news.dircon.co.uk...
bogus address
rsa...@dircon.co.uk (Bob.) writes:
> I am considering buying a thatched cottage and what I know about
> thatched roofs you can write on a micro dot.
I was in Dwelly's Gaelic dictionary for possible folk band names a
week ago and came across one of those words that sums up a whole
culture - Gaelic has a word for the drips of sooty water that come
through smoke-blackened thatch in heavy rain. (And a verb meaning
to chew something with rotten teeth, but that's getting off-topic).
> Firstly, if anybody could advise me as to what what problems I could
> look for myself with the existing thatch, I don't know how old it is
> and the present owners are unsure as they have only lived there for
> about 4 years.
If you or anyone in your family has asthma, forget it. All thatched
roofs shed millions of mould spores, and the older the more. These
are one of the worst of all respiratory allergens, and the problem is
simply not fixable.
---> email to "jc" at this site: email to "jack" or "bogus" will bounce <---
Jack Campin: 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU; 0131 6604760
http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/purrhome.html food intolerance data and recipes,
freeware logic fonts for the Macintosh, and Scots traditional music resources
Andrew
er66.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>>Between these 2 sites there are more answers than your questions!
>
> http://users.erols.com/mrthatch/faq.html
> No mention of prices but will give a free quote.
>This site is worth a look just for content.
>
> This American site has prices in $, I think as usual if you call £'s For
> $'s, it won't be far off.
>
>http://www.roofthatchers.com/thatch.htm
>
>Hope this helps.
>
> Steve
>
>Bob. <rsa...@dircon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:37a373fd...@news.dircon.co.uk...
>> Hi.
>>
>> thatched roofs you can write on a micro dot.
>>
<Snip>
>>
>> Bob.
>
>
Rats, mice, starlings and overpaid Londoners love them.
Getting proper thatching straw is very difficult because commercial
farmers only grow nitrogen-smothered short-stalk varieties.
Having worked for an insurance company my immediate thoughts are -
get a buildings insurance quote, these dwellings are politely referred
to as 'non-standard construction' = much higher premiums.
They also tend to be a little lacking in the foundations department,
to say nothing of damp-proof courses, or lack-off.
Also if you or any of your family are more than 5'9" tall you might
discover another downside to them - they were built when people died
before they were 50 and because of disease/diet the inhabitants weren't
very tall.
Is it on mains drainage, or does it have a cesspit/septic tank - find
out.
If you are a 'towny' coming to the countryside for peace and quiet then
some words of warning -
a) it's very noisy at times (birds,cows,tractors,chainsaws etc.)
b) if you are adjacent to an arable farm then expect to get dosed with
lindane and other pesticides at least once a year as spray drift wafts
over your property.
c) real country-people don't care much for outsiders, especially if you
have anti-foxhunting stickers in your windscreen.
d) Winters can be unpleasant if you are used to 'ampstead 'eath.
e) Shops (if you can find any) generally don't stay open all hours.
f) People tend to walk,cycle,ride horses along country lanes and this
may spoil your progress in your Gti/Porsche/BMV etc.
g) driving your 4wd along 'green lanes' may be legal? But won't endear
you to the locals.
--
Andrew
Sydney Ratztrangler
I seriously looked at becomming a thatcher when I left school (I worked
for a builder during holidays and saw one in action on a property he as
renonvating. Some facts that I accumulated at the time (circa 16 years
ago).
Short straw thatch - 50 yrs expentancy
long straw thatch - 75 yrs expectancy
Norfolk reed - 100 yrs "
Maintenance - keep the wire netting repaired or the birds will really
damage all the fancy hazel work on the ridge and wreck the surface.
Regular maintenance is a must - the interval dependant upon the roof
on a number of factors such as pitch, material and styling.
You can have a half thatch which essentially means the top half is
re-dressed.
Fire - was a big problem during the stubble burning days (a friend of
mine lost his thatched roof to a burning piece of airborne straw). It
was pretty scarey event, a neighbour notices some smoulding from deep
within the thatch and knocked on the door. Called the firebrigade who
arrived and at once ordered all the furniture to be removed (smoke still
trickling from within the thatch) - and then very very suddenly and
rapidly the whole roof went up (the fireman grappled in vain to save the
house - which was wooden frame and wattle and daub construction and so
loved being dowsed in water)
Cost - owing to the scarcity of good thatchers (no new buildings are
allowed to be thatched - recent building regs) hence demand is low and
hte extreme scarcity of the materials (long straw has to be grown
specially and gathered by hand to be of use). Norfolk reed is a little
more common although very expensive. If I recall the cost of a complete
re-thatch, on medium sized cottage, was approx 50 % the cost/value of
the house (although another friend, about 7 yrs ago, had his rood
completely re-thatched (log straw) for Ł30,000. It was barn conversion
- the original building was thatched.)
Hope this helps
All the best
Sydney
Bob.
wrote:
>>> Hi.
>>>
>>> I am considering buying a thatched cottage and what I know about
>>> thatched roofs you can write on a micro dot.
>>>
>Estate agents will see you coming a mile off.
><Snip>
>>>
Yes I know, thats why I was asking, forearmed is forwarned.
>>
>>
>Rats, mice, starlings and overpaid Londoners love them.
I'm none of them,.
>Is it on mains drainage, or does it have a cesspit/septic tank - find
>out.
>
Could you please elaborate on the problems to look out for on
cesspit/septic tanks other than the obvious i.e s**t ousing out
everywhere.
I do appreciate your help.
Bob
Frank Duffy
<rsa...@dircon.co.uk> writes
>>>> Hi.
>>>>
>>>> I am considering buying a thatched cottage and what I know about
>>>> thatched roofs you can write on a micro dot.
>>>>
>
>rsa...@dircon.co.uk
From the insurance point of view I know of (but have no connection with)
a company called John Albion and Partners who are a "Thatched Home
Insurance Specialists" They have a free phone number - 0800 413935.
They do a very good booklet called "Protecting your Home from Fire"
which I think you'd find very interesting too if you are considering or
live in a thatched property.
--
Frank Duffy fr...@chimney.demon.co.uk
www.isokern.co.uk
www.kedddy.co.uk
www.i-i.net/dunsleyheat
www.uhs.currantbun.com
Frank Duffy
writes
>Cost - owing to the scarcity of good thatchers (no new buildings are
>allowed to be thatched - recent building regs)
Sydney,
What is it that prohibits thatch? When did the regs change? and do you
know if Scotish regs are the same?
Tony Williams
Huge <hu...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
[snip]
> There is a cesspit FAQ on the Web somewhere, but I don't seem to have
> the URL.
That could be KKKatie's? She's an expert on the
legals involved, produced a long cesspit FAQ
originally for demon.local (I think), but no longer
inhabits there. She was last seen in uk.legal, so
subscribe to that newsgroup and see if she appears.
Deja News *might* produce something.
--
Tony Williams.
Bob.
Smart Alex
roofs, but they should be no closer than (IIRC) 12m from a boundary
(which rules out terraces & semis).
There is guidance produced by a Dorset district council which could
allow re-roofing (not new build) of semis and terraces of three in
thatch (subject to local Building Control acceptance). Further details
can be looked up if required.
Don't know about the Scottish rules on this matter, but I would have
thought it wouldn't be permissible for reasons other than fire (moisture
penetration & ventilation for starters).
--
Smart Alex.
"You know? I'd rather see this on TV.
Tones it down" [Laurie Anderson]
Frank Duffy wrote in message ...
cbw
>Could you please elaborate on the problems to look out for on
>cesspit/septic tanks other than the obvious i.e s**t ousing out
>everywhere.
>
>
>I do appreciate your help.
>
>Bob
>
>rsa...@dircon.co.uk
published by Peter Jobling Publishing, Carmarthen. isbn 0 9511076 1 5
Seems to contain all any one could need to know on the subject.
--
cbw