This is the most commonly asked question, and also the hardest to answer. The honest answer is to say it varies – hugely – depending on the material used, the pitch (steepness) of the roof, the local climate, the aspect of the roof, how well the roof is maintained, and how well it was thatched in the first place.

But here are some timespans. Steep-pitched water reed roofs in East Anglia – which has a rainfall similar to parts of the Mediterranean – have been known to last a century. In the Western Isles of Scotland, a roof thatched with marram grass will last seven years. In Devon, a lifespan of 20-30 years is realistic for both water reed and combed wheat, though I have come across roofs here lasting forty years or more.

During the life of the thatch, the roof will need to be periodically re-ridged. In Devon, ridges typically need to be replaced every 10-15 years.

The ‘coat’ is the main surface of the thatch. The ‘ridge’ is the capping on top of it – the highest part of the roof.

Both styles are widely used in Devon, though flush ridges are considered more traditional. A block ridge is thicker, with a ‘step’ cut into the wheat, which can either be straight, or cut into a pattern.

A flush ridge continues seamlessly on the same plane as the main surface of the thatch. In some areas of Devon you will come across ‘rope’ ridges, where the wheat is twisted into a row of ‘bobbins’ along the apex that resemble a rope. I can fit these, or a standard ‘wrapover’ style ridge, where the wheat is bent over the apex of the roof.

This also varies enormously, depending on the size and complexity of the roof, and how many thatchers are working on it. The longest project I have been involved in took six months. For a full re-thatch, four-six weeks is more typical, though of course, there is a strong weather dependency. I provide a realistic time estimate when I start, and keep you informed  as work proceeds.

Thatch fires can be devastating, and if you own a thatched roof proper precautions must be taken. Chimneys should be swept twice a year and if possible, lined. Birds nests should be removed as soon as possible, and only appropriate, well-seasoned wood should be burned. Many insurers now require chimney pots to be 1.8 metres above the line of thatch, to reduce the risk of ignition from sparks.

Insurance costs have unfortunately become higher in recent years, as have thatching materials. As for the thatching process itself, a skilled craftsman will spend many days hand-making your roof from natural materials. It is a process that takes time to do correctly.

Thatchers price a roof based on its surface area (measured in thatching squares – 10’x10’) and by linear foot of ridge. Some thatchers may include scaffolding in their estimates, others not. It is always worth making sure you know what is and isn’t included in the estimated prices you are given, and I am always happy to answer any questions you may have. And it’s also worth keeping in mind that in thatching, as with many things in life, cheapest is rarely best.

As explained above, both water reed and combed wheat are traditional in Devon, and both are excellent thatching materials. Before the 1970s, the majority of roofs here were thatched in wheat. Now, the majority are thatched in water reed, as wheat has become scarcer and imported water reed more widely available. Though as mentioned above, wheat is still widely used for ridging.

Yes. You are making a roof out of a wild plant which can regrow to the same height the following year (in the case of water reed), or be sown and harvested again, in the case of wheat. At the end of its life on the roof, thatch is a biodegradable material, unlike concrete or slate.

It is true that many thatching materials are now imported from abroad, but the same is true of alternatives like slate.

Writing this during the long hot summer of 2026, it’s also worth mentioning that a thatched house is the coolest place to be in a heatwave – with no need for air conditioning.

Yes, grants are available for re-thatching costs in Scotland, provided certain criteria are met. The funding body is Historic Environment Scotland. I am happy to give advice on the application process.

Unfortunately, there are no grants currently available for thatch owners in England. The reason for the Scottish grants is that thatch is now extremely rare north of the Border: there are only around 370 roofs remaining.

Few weeks pass without me being told by a passerby that mine is a dying trade. My usual response is to say that people have been declaring the death of thatching for at least two hundred years, but against all the odds, we’re still here.

If you are fortunate enough to own a thatched roof, you not only have a roof that is sustainable, beautiful and functional, but one that preserves and carries forward a precious part of our history and heritage.