Long Straw Thatching

The Mizon Family have been thatching in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex  for a number of generations.  Brian has been a thatcher for over 35 years, he works with his son Tom who is also an accomplished  thatcher and a skillful straw animal maker.
Thatching in Long Straw,Norfolk Reed and repairing the thatched cottages in and around Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex they are kept busy.

If you are looking for a free estimate or advice on your thatched roof please contact us.

Maybe you would just like a straw animal, if so, please click the link below.

 http://www.thestrawstore.com/ 

Most of the thatched cottages in Cambridgeshire are thatched in long straw.

As Cambridgeshire was mainly a wheat growing area long straw was a very popular roof covering.

Long straw gives a much softer appearance than reed, and is well suited to smaller cottages in Cambridgeshire.

The roof pitch of a long straw thatch should be approximately 50 degrees, so the water runs off very quickly. A long straw roof would normally last  20 to 25 years.

                                                Thatch Tips

• Keep tall trees away from your thatch.  The drips and the damp environment wear the thatch prematurely.

• Moss is a sign of dampness.  It is advisable to not let moss build up.  Have the moss removed by a Thatcher.

• It is said that a strip of copper wire keeps moss at bay.

• Do not let clematis and trailing plants on the thatch.

• A television aerial man can cause a lot of damage to a thatched roof.  Where possible site your aerial away from the roof.

•  If you have your cottage painted ask the painter not to move the wire netting as they seldom put it back properly. 
• If you are having your roof  re-thatched or repaired it is a good idea to have the chimney checked and if necessary re-pointed first.

          For Long Straw Thatching in progress click the link below

http://www.miltonvillage.org.uk/php/bin/readarticle.php?articlecode=432