EXPERT ADVICE
The cost to thatch a roof can be a big project outlay, typically costing tens of thousands of pounds. And for good reason: thatching is a highly skilled trade, often requiring decades of experience for a master thatcher to be able to start their own practice.
The problem is compounded by warnings of straw shortages by Historic England, causing huge problems for the industry and threatening the very existence of the cherished thatched cottage on the British landscape. Which is strange timing, in a sense, given that thatched roofs can be one of the greenest, eco-friendly and warmest roofing options available.
While water reeds can be imported from Turkey, Austria, Hungary and China, traditional thatching
