Is your thatched roof in dire need of replacement, but first want to know as much as possible about this project? Read here about the costs and options offered by thatching companies. That way, you can choose the best price for your durable thatched roof.
Reed company prices
A thatched roof is a durable form of roofing and gives a traditional, rural look to your home. A thatching company offers different types of thatch; natural thatch, patent thatch and novarite. Patent reed and novarite are types of artificial reed, as nowadays it is also possible to install artificial reed on your roof. Artificial reed is less flammable, allowing you to save on fire protection measures. Your thatcher will tell you which measures are best suited to your thatched roof. Below is an overview of the average costs of the different types of thatch. The prices include VAT and labour. A roof with a total surface area of 120 m2 is assumed here; this is the average surface area of a Dutch roof.
| Type | Directive price detached house with an average roof area (120m2) incl. VAT and labour | Average price per m2 |
|---|---|---|
| Natural reed | £ 17,800 – £ 19,400 | £ 27 – £ 36 |
| Patent reed | £ 27,600 – £ 31,700 | £ 60 – £ 80 |
| Novarite | £ 35,500 – £ 39.400 | £ 120 – £ 140 |
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Price examples
Additions:
A thatching-company doesn’t necessarily have to renew your entire thatched roof, a few bunches of thatch can also be added in places where it is needed. For an area of 15 m2 that needs to be thatched, thatching prices average around £1,500.
Isolating:
By having your thatched roof insulated, you will increase the living comfort of your home and save on your energy bill every month. Up to 30% of the heat from your home is lost through your roof without roof insulation. The insulation of your thatched roof costs, for a roof area of 120 m2, on average £ 5,500.
Reed combined with roof tiles:
In the Netherlands, you often see thatched roofs in which part of the roof is covered with roof tiles. This is usually done to define the look of a house. To cover a roof of 120 m2, of which 40 m2 is covered with roof tiles, the average cost is £10,300.
Price structure of thatching company prices
The prices charged by a thatching company consist of three elements; the thatch, steel wire and screws, and of course the thatcher’s salary. Below, you can see the price structure of a thatching company visualised. This visualisation is based on imported natural reeds, as more than three-quarters of reeds used in the Netherlands are imported.
What choices determine the price of a thatching company?
If you hire a thatching company, you will be faced with several choices, all of which affect the total price. See below which choices these are.
Choice 1: Material
One third of the total cost is the cost of the reeds. In the first price overview, you can see that natural thatch is a lot cheaper than novarite. On the other hand, with natural reed you have to take into account extra fire protection measures, because natural reed is more flammable than artificial reed. Dutch reeds are more expensive than imported reeds and this is also the reason why foreign reeds in particular are processed by thatch companies in the Netherlands.
Choice 2: Type of roof
The degree of difficulty of your roof affects the labour costs considerably. If a roof has a lot of chimneys, this creates a lot of broken surfaces and therefore more work. The height of the roof also affects labour costs. A high roof requires more scaffolding, so your thatching company will charge a higher price. As for the construction of your roof, there are two types:
- Open roof:This is the traditional thatched roof often seen on old houses. In this, the thatch is fixed on wooden slats. In newly built houses with a thatched roof, this type is no longer allowed because it does not meet certain insulation values. Open roofs are more of a fire hazard than closed roofs, so you have to take extra costs into account for fire prevention measures. The thatch is fixed on a dense surface, making it less likely to burn. A closed roof does require more labour, which is why a thatching company charges higher costs for this project than for an open roof.
Choice 3: Type of thatch frost
Reed frosts are the tiles that are fixed on top of the roof. The type of reed frost you choose will help determine the look of your house. There are three types of reed frost:
- Ceramic:This type of reed frost is most commonly used in the Netherlands, often in red or black. Choosing this type of reed frost will give your home a traditional, rural look.
- Copper: Copper reed frost is an option to give your home a more modern look. This type of reed fork is less chosen in the Netherlands because of the high copper price.
- Plastic: For a few years now, it has been possible to have reed forks installed that are made of plastic. The advantage of this type of reed frost is that algae and moss do not grow on it and it is virtually maintenance-free.
Choice 4: Additional options
A reed roof is more flammable than other roofing materials, which is why you can see a list of the most important fire-resistant options here. It is very likely that your thatching company will also recommend these measures.
| Option | Average price (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Fire-resistant coating | £7.50 per m2 |
| Anti-moss coating | £1 – £1,50 per m2 |
| Sparker | £ 16 – £ 23 |
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