Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 15.26: Details of roof thatching with straw. Source: Grutzmacher 1981
The durability of thatch depends upon where and how the plant was cultivat-
ed, especially in relation to heating and freezing cycles. Straw and reeds which
are used on the continent today are nearly all artificially fertilized, which pro-
duces enlarged and spongy cell growth resulting in a far shorter life span than
usual.
