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Thatch repairs

Thatched roof repairs in Hertfordshire and the Home Counties

Not every roof needs a full re-thatch. Often a repair to one area adds years to the life of the coat. Send us photos of the damage with the form, and we give you a free quote.

A large thatched house with a dormer window and a brick chimney

Send us photos first

Take a few photos of the roof from the ground, near and far. Add them to the enquiry form. A master thatcher looks at them and tells you what the repair needs and what it is likely to cost.

If we need to see the roof, we arrange a visit. Repair quotes are always free.

What we repair

We repair storm damage, worn patches, valleys and the thatch around chimneys and dormers. We re-dress eaves and gables. We also repair holes made by birds and rodents, and fit wire netting to stop them.

We tell you honestly if a repair will last, or if a re-thatch is better value. If the coat has good years left, we say so.

Moss and roof care

Light moss can protect the thatch, so we often leave it. Very thick moss holds water against the coat, so the thatch decays faster. We decide for each roof, and we remove very thick moss carefully by hand. We also tell you which trees to cut back because they drop leaves on the roof or shade it.

Our Thatch Care Plan gives your roof 1 day of inspection and repairs each year, so small problems never become large ones.

Where we do this work

We are based in Hertfordshire and do most of our work in the county. We also cover west and north Essex, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, North London, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, within about 60 miles of our base.

Know your roof

The parts of a thatched roof

These are the words we use in a quote or a condition report. Each part wears at a different rate, so each has its own repair.

Drawing of a thatched cottage with its ridge, liggers, coat, eyebrow window and chimney labelled
A thatched cottage, front view. Not to scale.
  1. Block-cut ridge

    The raised cap along the top of the roof. The lower edge is cut into scallops and points. It needs replacing every 10 to 15 years.

  2. Liggers

    Split hazel rods, fixed in a crossed pattern, that hold the ridge in place. They are also the first sign of wear.

  3. The coat

    The main body of long straw, wheat reed or water reed, laid in courses and dressed tight. A water reed coat lasts 50 years or more.

  4. Eyebrow window

    A dormer window where the thatch sweeps up and over the frame, with no hard corners.

  5. Chimney

    Most thatch fires start here. Keep the flue lined and swept.

Recent work

Questions people ask us

Can I send photos of the roof for a quote?

Yes. Add up to 6 photos to the enquiry form. A master thatcher looks at them and gives you an idea of the work and the cost. If we need to see the roof, we arrange a free visit. Repair quotes are always free.

Should moss be removed from a thatched roof?

Not always. Light moss can protect the thatch, so it is often best to leave it. Yes, get rid of very thick moss: it holds water against the thatch, so the reed decays faster. We look at each roof and decide. Remove moss carefully by hand, or the coat gets damaged. Cut back trees that shade the roof or drop leaves on it.

How long does a thatched roof last?

A Norfolk water reed coat lasts 50 years or more, so it is the hardest-wearing material. A combed wheat reed coat usually lasts 25 to 35 years, and a long straw coat 15 to 30 years. The ridge wears faster, so it needs replacing every 10 to 15 years. Roof pitch, shade from trees and the quality of the work all change these figures.

What is the Thatch Care Plan?

For one fixed fee of £995 + VAT a year, your roof gets 1 day of work from a master thatcher. That 1 day includes the inspection, the written report and the repairs. The repairs can include small patch repairs, moss removal where needed, debris clearance and repairs to loose netting. When we can do a repair there and then, we do it. When the work needs a team, we arrange for a team to come back. If the roof needs work that the plan does not cover, your report includes our recommendations and a separate quote. You also get your insurance report when your insurer asks for it, and priority after a storm. The fee covers work we can do safely from ladders. If the roof needs scaffold, the scaffold costs extra.

Other services

Free quote and roof check

Get a free quote for thatch repairs

We visit, look at the roof and give you a written, fixed-price quote. It is free, with no obligation. For a repair, send us photos first.

  • A fixed price, with a full description of the work
  • Every quote is valid for 12 weeks
  • A 5-year written guarantee on all completed work
  • All waste removed as part of the service. Scaffold is an extra cost.

Or call 07860 292801

Ask for a free quote or roof check

Tell us about your roof. We reply by phone or email. If you prefer to talk, call 07860 292801.

For example: when it was last thatched, the material, or whether the house is listed.

Photos of the roof (optional, up to 6)

    We reply within 1 working day. We use your details only to reply. Privacy notice.