We used pre-made panels of thatch to roof our roundhouse. Thatching is usually very slow and laborious, but we thatched our roundhouse in just one day and for only $100. That’s why I love thatch panels – they’re very inexpensive and all the tedious work has already been done. And they work great on round (conical) and organic shaped roofs because they’re flexible. Just bend them into position and nail in place. We installed the panels using 8” spacing. Plan on rethatching every 3-5 years or so, depending on the quality of your thatch.
See all my natural building videos on my YouTube earthbag building channel.
I have just finished watching ‘Timeteam’ where they constructed a thatched roundhouse as part of the archeology programme…it was awesome…they look very livable…
That’s so cool!
Any ideas for sources in the USA?
Thanks.
Yes, here are a couple of possibilities: http://www.thatching.com/supplies.html and http://www.safarithatch.com/thatch/products/productCategory.aspx?id=4 …although I am sure the thatching will be much more expensive than in Thailand.
Do you live in the south? Maybe you could locate a source in Mexico and deliver materials yourself. While there, you could pick up on deals for tile, furniture, etc.
Another thatch option is Fijian or flexible panels: http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/thatched-roofs/
The photo doesn’t capture the incredible color and texture of the thatch. Whereas most ceilings are boring, this one you can stare at for a long time.
Is humor allowed here? People have been asking me if the roof leaks. Well, not yet. I run to the roundhouse and look after every major rain (it’s the beginning of rainy season here). So far so good… except for one time…
I looked down and was surprised to see a wet spot on the floor. I said something like “look the roof leaked’. Everyone laughed and said “no, it was your dog! Brownie, Brownie.”
WOW Amazing… and all natural materials put together by hand. Love it.
At first we wanted to use clay tiles for roofing, but the cost was too high. Then we looked into wooden shakes at about 1/3 the cost. That was still costly. The $100 cost for thatch is like music to my ears. We’re laughing all the way to the bank, like they say. And it proves what I’ve known for a long time — that it’s possible to build for $10/sq. ft. using natural materials.