England's thatched roofs

It's hard to get more retro than a house covered with straw, but in England, thatched roofs - a tradition of eras gone by - have become a cool, desirable home amenity. Mark Phillips meets a fourth-generation thatcher, for whom business has never been better.
Subscribe to the "CBS Sunday Morning" Channel HERE: bit.ly/20gXwJT
Get more of "CBS Sunday Morning" HERE: cbsn.ws/1PlMmAz
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Instagram HERE: bit.ly/23XunIh
Like "CBS Sunday Morning" on Facebook HERE: on. 1UUe0pY
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Twitter HERE: bit.ly/1RquoQb
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Google+ HERE: bit.ly/1O3jk4x
Get the latest news and best in original reporting from CBS News delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to newsletters HERE: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T
Get your news on the go! Download CBS News mobile apps HERE: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream local news live, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! bit.ly/1OQA29B
---
"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science, Americana and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.

[@nathanbaker8245]

3 most common materials are water reed, combed wheat reed and long straw. Retired Master Thatcher here

[@gardensofthegods]

Can you explain how good it is at keeping out the heat in exceptionally hot weather ... or keeping a house warm in exceptionally cold weather ?

[@gardensofthegods]

I always love the way that thatched roofs looked since I first saw one when I was a little kid over 60 years ago .

[@gardensofthegods]

Can you give any advice for people who think they want to get into that industry but really don't know anything about it

[@xaqxiq9281]

I am so happy that thatch roofs are still in practice and that it’s gaining popularity.

[@MrDaiseymay]

One important issue not raised here, is the many types of ''Thatch' material. The one most sort-after, which used to be plentyful, is grown in only a few places in Britain now.

[@Debbiesnc]

All I can think of is "Everything old is new again". There is beauty and hope in our past, present and future within the hearts of humankind and our creative souls.

[@pyeltd.5457]

Not vinyl

[@m101ist]

@@pyeltd.5457 Or cheap plastics. 😳

[@DrunKao]

I screenshotted this comment. Too poetic.

[@TheTexasTakebyMissVikie]

I have ALWAYS wanted a home like this ✨💖✨ Miss Vikie Howell 🕊💖🕊 Texas USA 🇺🇸

[@MrDaiseymay]

Most things are available, it's all about MONEY

[@linajurgensen4698]

In northern Germany we have A LOT of these houses with thatched roofs (especially old farm houses). We even have some villages with these kind of houses only. The bad thing is, that the maintaining of these houses is very complex and expensive. That’s why you see less and less of them everywhere.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Slightly odd, given that , as this vid implies, Thatching is a growing fashionable 'extra' in Britain..

[@ursulageorgeson7086]

Renewable, breathable, insulating, local, sustainable. Only thing they don´t cover here is the spiders that live in the bloody eaves coming down at night to say hi.

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

You took the words out my mouth I was going to get my roof thatched roof but found out insects/spiders like to make it home and I hate spiders but that's why they had there 4 poster beds covered in the old days because they'd bloody drop down on you whilst your sleeping ewww hate them creepy crawlies 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚔️

[@SpiralBreeze]

I saw a show that said it cost about 20K, to replace. I'd totally buy a thatched roof cottage.

[@SECRETORDER1336]

And lasts for 30+ years

[@MrPerla2005]

such beautiful houses.... a dream

[@tallthinkev]

Not really, try getting household insurance!

[@pyeltd.5457]

Council estates from the 60s are better.

[@JanColdwater]

It is beautiful!

[@TheLordismystrenght7]

It is extremely cool in the summer and warm in winter. I loved thatched roof.

[@fosterjackiefoster3259]

I like them! They look so neat, it's amazing how you do that! 👍😃

[@amy.888]

Synthetic thatch can be used for 20 years. I am a manufacturer of synthetic thatch

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

You don't have to mow it 😂😂

[@lindanorris3226]

VERY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE🎀💫💝

[@lindanorris3226]

FANTASTIC JOB GUYS 💫 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING US 💫🌎

[@m101ist]

I think it is a good insulated material and heat retention. 🙄

[@sydneymathuka4228]

Ok it's clean smells good beutiful thanks

[@Filbi]

Burninating the countryside... Burninating the peasants... Burninating all the peoples... Who live in thatched-roof cottages! Thatched-roof cottages! AND THE TROGDOR COMES IN THE NIIIIIIIGHT

[@uncannyambience4033]

I literally looked up thatched roof cottages to see if anyone would be in the same mindset....when burnination has forsaken the countryside, only one god will prevail, my money's on TRAGDOR!!!

[@MarshuTheBurninator]

what nice english thatched roof cottages. it sure would be a shame

[@sydneymathuka4228]

It's clean smells good beutiful

[@blsi4037]

Now I know the meaning of Margaret Thatcher's last name...

[@BunderChowed]

Yes, many years ago her family were butchers.

[@hetrodoxly1203]

Yes her ancestors were Thatcher's, her father was a greengrocer and she lived above the shop, from such humble beginnings to one of the worlds great leaders.

[@sidneymathuka7014]

Smells so good cresta hotel

[@RandomTXDude210]

Proof that wildfires are not a concern in some places!

[@sidneymathuka7014]

Nice house

[@mohammadalhuniti6216]

Great 👌🏾

[@lindanorris3226]

FANTASTIC JOB THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING US 🎈🤗🧸

[@Lilreeces10]

Thatch Life

[@sydneymathuka4228]

Clean

[@cretustefan163]

Da. arată bine și. frumos

[@danielcuevas5899]

Cretu Stefan Brazil🇧🇷?

[@lindanorris3226]

MY BEAUTY DREAMS HOUSES 🎈🤗🏡

[@user-tl8it7gn1x]

Zero pollution resources.

[@sydneymathuka4228]

Traditional healer

[@sydneymathuka4228]

Ok

[@wdh47211]

Got Thatch?

[@ncsr111]

Bush in the landscaping.

[@pyeltd.5457]

Boris Bus drives by

[@jamesmeyers887]

No jokes please

[@superkas]

Looks like in Bali, those roofs.

[@shsb2355]

Purely aesthetic

[@sticklebacksummer]

No , practical

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

No it isn't..Lols

[@sydneymathuka4228]

Guest house

[@jonescrusher1]

They do tend to burn rather well.

[@sticklebacksummer]

Not true

[@jonescrusher1]

@@sticklebacksummer Two major fires in my locality in recent years suggests otherwise.

[@pyeltd.5457]

It's all about peeble dashing

[@MrDaiseymay]

pebble

[@suzannedawson6330]

How do they not leak or grow mold? Then there’s the fire hazard??? What’s the practical purpose?

[@MrDaiseymay]

They can be treated or sprayed with a fire retardant. AND, the skill in applying the straw, as can be seen, is that it is VERY tightly compacted. So reduces air and rain entry, but high heat insulation .

[@SuperBroncosguy]

Cool. Old is new again. C'mon bell bottoms.

[@Unmployable]

Not sure how peace is brought on by a thatch roof. Quite the opposite

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

Why the opposite??

[@user-pp4oo4pe2b]

👍👍

[@Bart-Did-it]

Thatch’s worst nightmare…. Lightning ⚡️

[@TheIncorrupt]

Actually, it's worst nightmare is.... Trogdor!!!

[@Bart-Did-it]

@@TheIncorrupt what’s that?

[@Bart-Did-it]

@@TheIncorrupt 🐉 👨 lol well yeh that’s even more scary Smaug turning up for dinner I was into He Man , Ninja turtles 🐢 , Thundercats , Air Wolf and A team when I was a kid lol Now its “Salad Fingers” on yt 😅

[@uwotmate4734]

They get tired of it and go "you know what? Eletrical fire"

[@MrDaiseymay]

no they don't--they sell it at a great profit and move on

[@m101ist]

Well it still using thatch roofs from at least 400 years ago. 😳

[@GreenerHill]

Thatch is attractive aesthetically, but it burns easily and is designed to deflect water. Wouldn't live under it again.

[@crabmeatmoon6827]

Designed to deflect water? What would you rather it was designed to collect and hold it on the roof instead?

[@pyeltd.5457]

That's if you lived under one once.

[@GreenerHill]

@@crabmeatmoon6827: Yes, it's designed to deflect water, so any fire in the roof is harder to put out. Is that explained simply enough?

[@GreenerHill]

@@pyeltd.5457: I lived under it for a couple of years, and every bonfire or rocket (and now BBQ) would cause a heart murmur!

[@crabmeatmoon6827]

@@GreenerHill well no, if you hold water in the Straw/Reed it will rot and cause damp on the inside, it deflects water to keep you dry, rather than hold it for decades at a time just incase you may have a fire one time

[@sydneymathuka4228]

O

[@nashvilleslim]

Give me a metal roof, and it will outlast me by hundreds of years.

[@thewealduk9802]

Won't look as nice.

[@frxnkie.mp3]

mmmm love a good THATCH

[@reidb18]

Sorry for being grammar police but.... roofs?

[@GreenerHill]

"Roofs" is right! "Rooves" would be wrong.

[@Pocketfarmer1]

Sorry ,thumbs down . Rooves is an acceptable alternate though older plural . Both are correct. Perhaps checking the Oxford English Dictionary would shed some light on the subject.

[@BobbyJamescomposer]

This host is embarrassing.

[@codychase6809]

It looks horrible

[@tamaracarter1836]

You have absolutely no taste. These historic thatched cottages are the epitome of charming beauty.

[@lindanorris3226]

FANTASTIC JOB THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING US 🎈🤗🧸