UK - Suffolk - Traditional thatcher on roof

Using techniques developed over thousands of years, traditional thatcher lays straw on a barn roof in Suffolk, England. Balancing across the width of the roof’s surface, the man uses a Shearing Hook to lay the straw into the outer weathering coat of the roof’s slope. Using techniques developed over thousands of years, good thatch will not require frequent maintenance. In England a ridge will normally last 10–15 years. Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge (Cladium mariscus), rushes and heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates. Thatch is still the choice of affluent people who desire a rustic look for their home or who have purchased an originally thatched abode.

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Filename: thatching01-16-08-1993.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 5375x3484 / 6.5MB; thatching thatcher traditional roof reed laying summer ladder property job technique method skilled skill ladders reaching roofing repairs maintenance structure build industry construction building thatch materials weatherproof high career salary wage steep local English England British Britain UK European EU Europe cottage home house layers layering reeds england thatched & an a at of for with and in or worker working work
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Using techniques developed over thousands of years, traditional thatcher lays straw on a barn roof in Suffolk, England. Balancing across the width of the roof’s surface, the man uses a Shearing Hook to lay the straw into the outer weathering coat of the roof’s slope. Using techniques developed over thousands of years, good thatch will not require frequent maintenance. In England a ridge will normally last 10–15 years. Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge (Cladium mariscus), rushes and heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates. Thatch is still the choice of affluent people who desire a rustic look for their home or who have purchased an originally thatched abode.