Thatch types

[Johe Saunders]

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There are three types of thatching currently used; long straw, combed
straw, and combed reed. The
first two methods both use cut wheat straw, but differ in the handling,
laying and attaching. The third
uses water reeds, which have a waxy coat and shed the water a bit
better. Sedge
(a type of grass), flax (a LINEN),and long shavings of 
wood have been used. 

The main requirements for a good thatch material are; 

   1.fairly long; 2.5 to 3.5 ft 
   2.unbroken; this means no bailed materials . 
   3.fairly smooth; twiggy branches can't be laid. Scottish
     thatchers do use bracken and heather, but use a
special technique.
   4.availalble in large quantities; a 10 foot "square" of roof requires
1/4 ton of straw, or 200
     wadds of reed (a wadd is about 3 hands circumference).

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