Tag Archives: thatching

Apr29

Thatching is finished!

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It’s been a long wait…our scaffolding has been up for a year but we finally have a roof. It’s not quite watertight up there yet though as the walls still need to be build up at the ends of the house to meet the roof…DSC_1334but we are close!

The thatchers laid a wooden frame over the new commoon rafters and new gorse DSC_1347Then thatched over the frame…DSC_1350The scaffolding is a brilliant place to get a phone signal!…DSC_1352 The ridge is begun…DSC_1354 before work starts at the back of the house…DSC_1356 My partner had to construct the frames to hold the new conservation skylights…14 inches above the roof! DSC_1364Thatching of the back of the house begins…DSC_1367

It’s been a long, tiring, messy process. We’ve argued with planning department, tussled with Listing and battled with the thatcher but finally, we are the proud owners of a Welsh, thatched, 18th Century Farmhouse.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed following our journey….follow this blog to watch us rebuilding our 17th Century cow byre.

Apr20

Thatching begins!

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It’s been a long wait….we’ve been in our house since November 2013 and had permission to thatch since July 2014 but I’m pleased to say, work is underway.

First, the tin comes off then a wooden lattice is laid over the remaining old gorse on which to attach the thatch.

DSC_1317We hoped all the old gorse could be removed but Listing are insisting we keep as much as possible (don’t ask me why, it’s crumblyand dirty) so we are stuffing new gorse in from inside wherever we can. The new gorse still has yellow flowers and looks so clean and fresh against the filth. Jibby went to check out the roof….DSC_1327 as the thatch was layered on. Two new purlins had already been put in by my partner, Mike and a friend. The common rafters leaning against it and the old gorse, crumbled to powder so, we are using wood cut from our land for new rafters. DSC_1331It’s an odd sensation standing in what is going to be ones bedroom and seeing the sky! DSC_1337DSC_1340 The thatcher went home for the weekend and left the house like this…DSC_1345 but they are back today and we’ve had a glorious sunny weekend (who says it rains all the time in Wales?)

I’m off to writer’s group now but check in again for more progress on our 18thC farmhouse.