Thatch Appreciation Course for Estate Agents, Surveyors, Home Inspectors, Loss Adjusters and Home Owners

The object of this course is to enable you to understand more about the process of Thatching.
There are a many questions that may come to mind when you are looking at a thatched roof:-

" What type of reed is on the roof?
" How long will it last?
" How often does it need re ridging?
" What type of ridge should I have?
" Will nearby trees affect the thatch?
" Should I have netting on the roof?
" Can you fireproof thatch?
" Where can I get house insurance for a thatched property?
" Why is the roof full of holes?
" How does the thatch stay on the roof?
" Does it have polythene underneath to keep the water out?
" What will a Thatched Roof Survey tell me about my roof?
" Where can I find a reputable Thatcher?

There is little information available that the layman or home owner can glean and a lot of rumour and misinformation about many aspects of Thatch, the course cannot answer all of the questions but will cover many points. Did you know that Devon has the largest number of intact medieval roofs in the world and some of these are over 700 hundred years old?
This course will not teach you how to thatch but will equip you to give honest answers to the above questions and many more.

Summary of contents.

Structure of the Thatching industry
Brief history of thatching
Crafts
Materials used today
Tools & fixings
Process of Thatching in the West Country
Photos
Life of Thatch & its Maintenance
Listed Buildings & Grants
Insurance, Fire precautions & netting
Costings
Living in a Thatched House
Barn Owls, Jackdaws, mice, bats, & Peacocks

The duration of the course is about 2.5 hours, notes, a certificate of attendance and coffee are included.

Times and locations of the courses will be subject to demand.

The cost of the course will depend on location and numbers and is anticipated to be between £40 to £50 per head.

Who is taking the Course?

This course will be taken by Anna and Charles Chalcraft. Charles originally came from a farming background in Mid Devon and became a full time thatcher in 1986 His work was of a sufficient standard that after some rigorous inspections, he was accepted into the Devon & Cornwall Master Thatchers Association. For a short while he was the representative on the National Council of Master Thatchers. He worked on many Thatched properties in Mid Devon. He stopped full time thatching in 1999.

Other Courses and Services
¢ Hands-on Weekend Thatching Courses
¢ Independent Thatched Roof Surveys in the Westcountry.