Thatched roofs, made to 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.

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.

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.

Every roof is different, so we give you a free fixed-price quote after we see it. As a general guide, national 2026 price guides put a full re-thatch of a typical cottage in the South East at about £16,500 to £22,500 in combed wheat reed, and more in water reed. A re-ridge alone is usually £3,500 to £8,000. See our thatching costs page for more detail.

Long straw is threshed wheat straw, laid in a loose, shaggy coat with a rounded look. It is the traditional thatch of Hertfordshire and Essex. Combed wheat reed is wheat straw that is combed so all the stems lie the same way, then laid with the butt ends down for a neater finish. Water reed is a hard, hollow reed from wetlands such as the Norfolk Broads. It gives a crisp, dense finish and lasts longest, 50 years or more. We use English material where possible, and advise which suits your house.

Find out when the roof was last thatched and re-ridged, what material it is, and whether the house is listed. Ask about fire barriers, chimneys and insurance. Then get a report from a master thatcher, not only a general surveyor. Our fixed-price thatch condition report tells you how many years the roof has left and what work it needs.

We are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. We work within about 60 miles of our base. That covers all of Hertfordshire, west and north Essex, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and North London. Local work in Hertfordshire comes first.