GRASSMUSASIA LEONBRIAN KIPLIMO

HISTORYThatching methods have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation, and numerous descriptions of the materials and methods used in Europe over the past three centuries survive in archives and early publications.In equatorial countries thatch is the prevalent local material for roofs, and often walls. Sugar cane leaf roofs are used in Kikuyu tribal homes in Kenya.[3][4]

ADVANTAGES

It is the most common roofing material in the world, because the materials are readily available.

Because thatch is lighter, less timber is required in the roof that supports it.

Thatch is a versatile material when it comes to covering irregular roof structures. This fact lends itself to the use of second-hand, recycled and natural materials that are not only more sustainable, but need not fit exact standard dimensions to perform well.

DISADVANTAGES

Thatched houses are harder to insure because of the perceived fire risk.

And because thatching is labor-intensive, it is much more expensive to thatch a roof than to cover it with slate or tiles.

Birds can damage a roof while they are foraging for grubs, and rodents are attracted by residual grain in straw.

FLAMMABILITYThatch is not as flammable as many people believe and burns slowly.The vast majority of fires are linked to the use of wood burners and faulty chimneys with degraded or poorly inserted or maintained flues.Sparks from paper or burned rubbish can ignite dry thatch on the surface around a chimney. Fires can also begin when sparks or flames work their way through a degraded chimney and ignite the surrounding semi-charred thatch. This can be avoided by ensuring that the chimney is in good condition, which may involve stripping thatch immediately surrounding the chimney to the full depth of the stack. This can easily be done without stripping thatch over the entire roof. Insurance premiums on thatched houses are higher than average in part because of the perception that thatched roofs are a fire hazard, but also because a thatch fire can cause extensive smoke damage and a thatched roof is more expensive to replace than a standard tiled/slate roof.

MAINTENANCE IN TEMPERATE CLIMATESGood thatch will not require frequent maintenance. A ridge will normally last 8–14 years, and re-ridging will be required several times during the lifespan of a thatch. Covering thatch with wire netting is no longer recommended, as this will slow evaporation and reduce its longevity.Moss can be a problem if it is very thick, but is not usually detrimental, and many species of moss are actually protective.

Name; Yellow Thatching Grass or Yellow Hard GrassLatin Name; Hyperthelia dissolutaUses; Yellow Hard Grass is grazed in the young stage but later becomes too hard for grazingDescription; Yellow Hard Grass is a tall, tufted perennial with 12 mm leaf blades and a length up to 3 m. The inflorescence is purplish-red with yellow awns and the leaf sheath has prominent auricles, with unbranched culms. Habitat; Yellow Thatching Grass usually grows in sandy soil in bushveld with a rainfall in excess of 600 mm per annum. It is also found in open grassland and sometimes in other soil types. Often abundant along roadsides it is found throughout tropical Africa. Flowers; December – June

Traditional african homesGrass thatched roofs

An outdoor dining areaA grass thatched roof with no walls

RagOther products of thatching