Roofing is one of the most critical parts of the house. It performs several critical insulating and protective functions, closely mating with other structural parts. For modern designers, the main choice regarding the roof refers specifically to the coating - tile, metal, bitumen, etc. However, plant-based natural material is still in demand. The reed roof also has this category, which has many advantages, but there are also disadvantages. Those who decide to use this coating technique should also take into account the nuances of the installation process when forming such a roof.
Bulrush as a building material
In the construction industry, reeds are rarely seen as an independent material. It is often added to mixtures and solutions as one of the components to obtain, for example, binders. However, sheaves with reeds cane can form a sheeting. To some extent, composite fibers can be considered a structural analogue of reeds in sheaves, but this only applies to appearance, and in the other technical and operational properties there is no similarity between them. High-quality reeds are collected along the banks of rivers and lakes, after which they are dried, optionally subjected to additional processing and used as a coating. Of course, from the point of view of a durable solution as part of a private house, this is not the best option, but there are very significant arguments that do not allow it to be so easily excluded. Moreover, much depends on the conditions in which the reed roof is used. Its pros and cons can manifest themselves in different ways, but their main and most common manifestations are worth considering in more detail.
Environmental friendly material
One of the few properties due to which natural materials, in principle, are still used in the construction industry, and are not replaced by composites. This, by the way, applies to wood. But in terms of environmental friendliness, reeds are even more attractive than some types of wood. The plant has a rather rare property not to absorb harmful and toxic substances, therefore, raw materials that were collected in areas unfavorable from an environmental point of view will not affect the health of users at home. Moreover, modern roofs are often covered with synthetic materials, including the same bitumen. Under the influence of the rays of the sun, such roofs emit dangerous resins, which can fall to the lower levels of the building, penetrating into living quarters. In turn, the reed roof neither in summer nor in winter emits even natural resins and enzymes that could harm humans or animals.
Strength properties
Although outwardly it may seem that reed is a fragile, short-lived material, the practice of its use shows the opposite. Individual reeds, of course, can break, but correctly laid sheaves are rarely exposed to such risks. What is also important in terms of mechanical resistance is flexibility. In this indicator, the material outperforms even modern artificial coatings. But, again, how useful this quality will be in practice depends on the scheme by which the reed roof was laid. With your own hands, you can form protective layers on the roof of any structure, performing zonal laying. The flexibility of the material allows you to cover structures of different shapes, and not just the classic single and double slope. If we talk about weaknesses in terms of physical security, then it is worthwhile to fear only small insects, which can also contribute to biological destruction. For this reason, it will be useful to periodically disinfect the reed cover.
Climate Protection
Bulrush is characterized by moisture resistance and the ability to form sealed insulating layers. But from the point of view of structural insulation, everything will depend on how correctly the laying technology was followed. In extreme cases, the quality of heat and moisture resistance can be replenished by auxiliary factory insulators. More importantly, the reed itself does not collapse under the influence of moisture. The same applies to snow with hail - a properly laid reed roof is not subjected to mechanical stress. Perhaps the wind will be the most dangerous climatic factor, but much in this part of the protective properties is also determined by the reliability of coating fixation. Due to the flexibility mentioned above, reed stems are not damaged in any way under similar loads - with insufficient rigidity of attachment, the position of individual segments can change, but this is not critical and repairable.
Reed as a microclimate regulator
Reeds, like many natural materials, also have the ability to naturally regulate the microclimate. If stone, brick, tile and sheet materials provide internal conditions that may not correspond to human comfort, then the reed optimally controls the temperature and humidity. In addition, this plant through the stems is filled with essential oils and useful molecules - in the process of natural ventilation, these substances also enter the house through the roof. It has already been said that this material does not emit harmful resins, but favorable trace elements will be provided. Moreover, the quality of circulation also depends on how the reed roof was formed. The coating device should be carried out simultaneously with the calculation of tightness and ventilation, which will allow to stably maintain the stability of temperature and humidity conditions. The optimal solution would be to create a continuous coating without gaps, but with separate technological zones that form the very possibility of air circulation.
Disadvantages of reeds
This material has serious flaws. Chief among them is the low threshold for refractoriness, i.e. exposure to ignition. In hot weather, a single spark is enough to spread fire on the roof. The reed burns well, and it is rather difficult to stop this process - all the more so since it is a roof and, possibly, inaccessible areas. To prevent such phenomena, special impregnations and modifiers allow stems to be processed before use. But in this case, you will also have to forget about environmental friendliness, since chemical treatment products most often contain harmful components. Among the shortcomings are noted and aesthetic qualities of appearance. Usually, natural building material also has the advantage of a natural texture, but in the case of a reed plant, the coating does not differ in decorative value. This can be seen on the example of a photo of the reed roof, which is presented below. However, much depends on the reed itself and the conditions of its operation.
General information about roofing technology
Laying is done by flooring on a previously formed rafter substrate. Even before installation, it is important to provide additional insulation barriers. It is advisable to use combined steam and water insulators, which will complement the function of protecting against moisture from the inside. The stems are located previously prepared sheaves with an angle of at least 30 degrees along the ramp. This is not a strict restriction, but for a given roof, this angle will be optimal. It is worth considering the time of year in which the reed roof should be laid. The installation principle regarding seasonality indicates that warm time will be most favorable. In winter, stems can become clogged with frozen water, which will cause the material to swell. In the spring, in the process of melting, the reeds will return to their former state, having lost at the same time their structural integrity.
It is also widely believed that the buildings themselves with a roof of this type should not be located under the trees. This is explained by the fact that falling leaves contribute to the decay of the material. In fact, it is for this reason that the reed roof is formed with a 30-degree slope angle at least. This is important not only for washing away dirt and debris, but also for stable drainage of rainwater.
Ways of securing sheaves
For the formation of sheaves, which then form a uniform sectional coating, different methods of fastening are used. In particular, firmware is implemented using wire. It reliably binds the stems and is reliable - the main thing is that the wire itself is not subject to corrosion processes. A widespread version of the firmware with fixing screws. Metalware directly reduces the sheaf to the roof supporting structure, also capturing the clamps encircling the reeds. Alternatively, fixation with nails can be offered. They fasten the sheaves, which subsequently fit the reed roof. The roofing device does not do without tamping tools. To obtain a dense and hard coating, special constrictions and shovels are used - they also level the layers.
Preparing the roof for operation
After laying, work is followed by tamping of plant material. In fact, this is a more precise fit of the sheaves around the roof area. Typically, such activities are carried out manually using the same blades. At this stage, it is important to check the quality of the strapping, the presence of insufficiently strong nodes and large gaps. If during the preparation of the stems the treatment was not carried out with protective equipment, then now is the time. Fire retardant is the most common fire fighting drug used to process reed roofs. With your own hands, it can be applied using a special spray or garden spray, previously diluted with water. As practice shows, in addition to refractory properties, flame retardant also gives reeds moisture protection and biological resistance.
In which cases is the use of a reed roof justified?
Country houses and cottages of large area rarely cover such a roof. With all its advantages, reeds are not able to provide the same level of mechanical, hydrological and thermal resistance, as polymer and metal materials do. Although the latter also have many of their shortcomings. However, small outbuildings, summer cottages and summer houses are quite suitable for reed roofing. Reviews indicate that in the summer this is the best option for suburban temporary housing precisely due to the optimal regulation of the microclimate.
Conclusion
The reed is advisable to use when there are no high requirements for the characteristics of the roof. Of course, for a large solid house you will need a durable system that will last for decades. Unfortunately, reed roofs cannot guarantee such periods of operation. Installation features allow a combined approach in the form of combining the stems with the same waterproofing and reinforcing the strength properties of the elements. But such solutions are impractical, since in this case the laying process and the cost of the coating are complicated. But this is not the main thing. The inclusion of additional coating elements of artificial origin cancels the main advantage of such flooring - environmental friendliness. And in this case, the use of reeds becomes completely meaningless.