08/07/2022
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE TREATING A THATCHED ROOF
Wrong decision about the use of an untested product can mean that the roof is so old (rotten) that it must be removed and redone in its entirety.
It is of utmost importance, before making a decision for treatment, that the client should be aware of the following and what should be considered:
Any thatch grass or reed roof is a natural cellulosic material such as wood that will weather in sun and weather. However, it is not like wood that can be sanded down and protected again every year.
A thatch grass or reed roof wears each in its own way depending on the quality of the respective roof.
Quality of the roof depends on the following as recorded in the literature:
o Material - that ONLY THATCH GRASS OR REED THAT MEETED SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS WERE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROOF
o Craftsmanship: -
§ That the layer of the roof is the correct thickness given the type of material (grass or reed) used.
§ The correct thickness ensures the correct surface finish of the roof surface
§ The distance between the tar treated sisal twine / stainless steel ties to ensure the correct compaction of the roof.
§ That the orientation of the (grass or reed) in the valley and corners is correct.
§ That the foot layer is bound correctly and properly.
§ That the service of the roof is done correctly
§ That an existing roof was first serviced or cared for
In order to get the best benefit from any fire treatment, the foregoing is of utmost importance as a good quality roof will not only have a longer service life, but will also extend the service life or effectiveness of the fire protection. If maintenance on a fire-protected roof has to be done prematurely, the disturbed areas must be treated again in order to completely protect the roof.
LIFESPAN OF A FIRE PROTECTION CHEMICAL
Any fire protection has a lifespan and must therefore be treated again after a period. The age or period depends on two factors, namely:
The lifespan of the product (between 5 to 7 years) determined during the evaluation of the product during the exposure tests (accelerated during testing and long-term confirmation).
The quality of the thatch cover of the roof that was treated. If poor material and / or compaction is present, the roof will have a short life.
The life of a coating can also be destroyed very quickly if a so-called weak or untested product is used.
THE PROTECTED PRODUCT MUST NOT IMPEDE THE AIR FLOW IN THE COATING, AS THIS HAS AN UNDESIRABLE EFFECT ON THE DRYING OF THE ROOF WHICH PROMOTES ROT.
The treatment may therefore not bind the grass as many people use in their marketing. Typically it will be said that the treatment also prevents the birds from pulling out the grass anymore.
Any prospective user should therefore make sure that they only use a successfully evaluated product on a good quality new thatch grass or reed roof or an existing roof that has been serviced beforehand and properly cleaned.
If a serviced roof is not cleaned properly (all weathered material is removed from the coating) it will firstly reduce the effectiveness of the product and probably also reduce the life of the roof.
Wrong decision about the use of an untested product can mean that the roof is so old (rotten) that it must be removed and redone in its entirety.
Marketers of fire-protected products must therefore ensure that products are not used on “unsuitable roofs”, as this can also cause great damage to the thatched roof.
