Thatching Articles

What is the function of wire netting on a thatched roof?

Thatched roofs are often covered with a layer of wire mesh, sometimes known as chicken wire. The primary purpose of this is to prevent damage from animals. Thatch, particularly in wheat straw, presents an attraction to various pests such as rats, mice and squirrels. Birds can also be a severe and difficult solve issue. In particular the crow family who seem to take great delight in pulling straw after straw from thatched roofs, with no obvious benefit to themselves. Installing wire netting can help mitigate most animal related issues. In Dorset, usually straw roofs are completely covered in a continuous layer of netting with apertures of approximately 22 millimetres. On roofs thatched with water reed, usually only the wheat straw ridge will be covered with netting, although in certain situations the whole roof will be netted. 

Very occasionally it’s necessary to resort to very small aperture wire to solve a stubborn pest problem, sometimes as small as around 13mm. 

It’s often said that badly fitted wire netting can ruin the aesthetic look of a perfectly good thatched roof. Ripples and undulations in the mesh can be quickly and easily remedied to increase the visual appeal of a property. 

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