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Today's Thatched Roof Insurance Providers...         Guide to Thatched House Insurance - The use of thatch as a roof covering material, has very ancient origins and it is probably amongst the oldest building crafts still in practice today.  Builders would often construct property using what ever local materials they could obtain and thus, the type of thatched used varied from one region to another. Today, thatched buildings are highly desirable, they do not often come up for sale, when they do, they can command premium prices. Obtain thatched house insurance for a building with a thatched roof is not an easy matter, at the present moment, we do not know of any underwriter who will provide you with an online quotation. This type of risk has to be referred to an insurance company and it would seem that each one has to be considered on its merits. Thatched House Insurance is available, it just takes a little longer to find it. Pretty much the single reason why this type of property is unappealing to an insurance company, is the increased risk of a Fire. Statistics show that if a Fire does start in this type of property, then the result in quite a large number of cases is a total burnout. When applying for your thatched building insurance quote, the insurers will ask you certain question which will help them decide if your property is a Thatched Building they would want to insure. As well as the usual underwriting questions, such as the location of the property and the postcode, sum insured etc, the insurers will ask a raft of other questions, these do vary, but be prepared for the following. Construction- Because of their age, many thatched buildings have unusual (by today's standards) building techniques and may use different materials. Your may be asked if the building has a timber frame or uses other materials instead of standard bricks.   Type of Thatch- There are various types of thatch material and insurers will want to know the type you are using on the roof. In the main, they could be either ; Reed, Combed Wheat Straw, or Long straw. As well as the type of thatch, they will want to know the age of the roof and probably the last time it was inspected by a qualified Thatcher. Some roofs are only part thatched and this should be pointed out.   Method of Heating- This is an important question as thatched buildings with open fires present an increased risk. If open Fires are used, you will need to find out when the chimney was last swept and if it is lined. Having a spark arrester fitted to the chimney ( a device installed in a chimney, flue or exhaust pipe to stop the emission of sparks and burning fragments.) can also help.   Age of Wiring-  Many household fires are caused by old or faulty wiring, knowing when the electrics were last checked in the property is essential.   Availability of Water- In most homes, it can be taken for granted that water is on tap, however of interest to an insurance company, is if there are other available water sources which can be used to help put out a fire.   Proximity to Fire Brigade- Many insurers will want to know how close the property is to the local fire station, in the event of a fire, literally, every second counts. As well as the distance, the insurers may want to know, how accessible the property is to road vehicles.   Safety Equipment  Having safety equipment at the home such as  Fire Blankets and smoke alarms can be a help.   When you have obtained your insurance for a Thatched Building, there are still some techniques you can apply to help prevent a fire at the property, insurance may pay for the restoration work but no one wants to suffer the trauma of a claim. Firstly, always read your insurance policy document, it will have terms and conditions and these may not be the same as for a standard home insurance policy. There may be requirements made in the policy such as the fitting of safety equipment that must be carried out to ensure that a claim is valid. Most things that need to be done are just common sense, here are a few of our tips. Always be very careful with naked flames in and around the property.  Candles should never be left burning unattended Avoid lighting bonfires or burning rubbish near the building. Make sure all combustible material is moved well away  from the outside, pay particular attention to liquid fuels. Have the electrics checked by a qualified electrician on a regular basis. Make sure that any chimneys are cleaned and inspected on a   regular basis. Have a Thatcher inspect the roof to make sure it remains safe and watertight, regular inspection by a Thatcher, can help prolong the life of the roof.           back to top