Our Fiber Thatch achieves the luxury, atmosphere, charm and nostalgia of a natural thatch roof without the disadvantages normally associated with natural thatched roofs.
FIBER THATCH | NATURAL THATCH | |
Life expectancy | Physical fatigue of material because of different weather conditions does not occur. A Fiber Thatch roof will last more than 50 years. | Life expectancy will vary between 2 and 20 years, depending on climatic conditions and global location. The higher the humidity of the location, the sorter the life generally. |
Maintenance | Totally maintenance free. No additional maintenance cost. Or upsetting your daily routine. | Regular (even yearly) cost-intensive maintenance by specialized highly skilled tradesmen will be required. |
Color | Fiber Thatch is U.V. Protected. Fading of color will be so slight that it will not be noticeable. | As the natural material decomposes due to the natural composting, the color will change to a dull gray/brown color. |
Fire – Fiber Thatch: | Fiber Thatch was tested and achieved a Class B fire rating under the UL 94 test method. The risk of flying sparks does not exist. An open fireplace is allowed. | Natural materials involve a high risk of fire. Even the best fire retardant treatment cannot solve the problem. |
Insurance | Premiums are the same as that of most conventional roof types. | There will be a surcharge. The surcharge can be as high as 100% or insurance can even be refused. |
Rodents, birds, insects | A synthetic (plastic) material. Not susceptible. | Bird damage and damage caused by rodents is costly to repair. Preventive measures against insects, is costly and have a low success rate. |
Mould, rot and decay | A synthetic (plastic) material. Not susceptible. | Natural Thatch is a fertile ground for moss and decay that is the cause of mould, rot and decay. |
Allergies and bacteria | A synthetic (plastic) material. Not susceptible. | People being allergic to various Natural Thatch materials are well-documented. Bacterial growth on natural material also a problem. |
Storm damage | Damage is highly unlikely but easily repaired. Fiber Thatch is supplied in a D.I.Y. tile, which is simply replaced or placed back in position. | Highly paid skilled tradesman or artisans are usually needed to repair storm damage. |
Danger during storms | It is a soft material and no danger exists that a tile might hurt passersby. | Depending on the material used, damage to other property or to passersby might be a reality. |
Wind resistance | Not effected by winds up to 180k.p.h. | The behavior of natural thatch not recorded. No tests conducted. |
Installation | Installation cost is low, as no specialized craftsmen are needed. The installation process is quick. | Skilled tradesmen and artisans are needed. Remuneration is dictated by the availability of tradesman and artisans. Thatching is a time consuming process. |
Transport costs | A fully loaded container packed with Fiber Thatch material cover a roof area of at least 2000 m² | Natural thatch packed in a 40ft. container can cover a maximum of 300m². Transport cost will be nearly 12 times more! |
Mobility | No special equipment needed to move Fiber Thatch. All material packed in boxes designed to maximize container space. Weight per box is only 35kg !! | Natural thatch materials are usually in loose bundles, or even if palletized special equipment is usually needed to handle. |
Availability of material | Manufactured in a factory. No seasonal shortages occur. | Natural materials depend on nature to provide. Seasonable shortages, droughts, etc. will play a roll. Supply and demand very influential. |
Code | Meets the requirements and codes of most countries in the world. | Special codes apply in most countries regarding the use of natural thatch. |
Roof pitch | Can be installed on a pitch as low as 25 degrees. | A minimum pitch of 45 degrees is recommended. The steep pitch means extended walls and more roofing material. Higher costs. |
