Reed roof: pros and cons

Roof covering is one of the most crucial parts of the house. It performs several important insulating and protective functions, closely interfacing with other structural parts. Before the modern designers, the main choice regarding the roof refers specifically to the coating - tile, metal, bituminous, etc. However, natural materials still are in demand. This category includes the reed roof, 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.

Reed as building material

In the construction industry, reeds are rarely considered as independent material. It is often added to the mixture and solutions as one of the components for the preparation of, for example, binders. Nevertheless sheaves with cane reeds can form a protective coating. To some extent, composite fibers can be considered a structural analogue of cane in sheaves, but this concerns only the appearance, and in the other technical and operational properties, similarities between them are not observed. Quality reeds are collected along the banks of rivers and lakes, then dried, if necessary, subjected to additional processing and used as a coating. Of course, from the point of view of a durable solution in a private house, this is not the best option, but there are very significant arguments that do not allow to exclude it so easily. Moreover, much depends on the conditions in which the reed roof is used. Pros and cons of it can manifest themselves in different ways, but their main and most common manifestations should be considered in more detail.

Environmentally friendly material

One of the few properties due to which natural materials are in principle still used in the construction sector, and not replaced by composites. This, incidentally, applies to wood. But in terms of environmentally friendly reeds are even more attractive than some species of wood. The plant differs quite a rare property not to absorb harmful and toxic substances, therefore, raw materials that were collected in unfavorable from the ecological point of view, will not affect the health of users at home. Moreover, modern roofing is often covered with synthetic materials, among which the same bitumen. Under the influence of sun rays, such roofs emit dangerous pitches that can descend to the lower levels of the building, penetrating into the living quarters. In turn, the reed roof neither in summer nor in winter gives out even natural resins and enzymes that could harm a person or animals.

Strength properties

Although it may seem that the reed is a fragile, short-lived material, the practice of using it shows the opposite. Certain reeds, of course, can break, but properly laid sheaves of such risks are rarely exposed. What is still important in terms of mechanical resistance is flexibility. In this index, the material wins even in 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 their hands, it is possible to form protective layers on the roof of any structure, performing zonal laying. The flexibility of the material makes it possible to cover designs of different shapes, and not just classic one-and two-slope ones. If we talk about weak places in terms of physical security, then it is worthwhile to fear only small insects that can contribute to biological destruction. For this reason it will be superfluous to periodically disinfect the coating from the reeds.

Protection against climatic influences

Reeds differ in moisture resistance and in the ability to form sealed insulation layers. But from the standpoint of structural insulation, everything will depend on how correctly the stacking technique was observed. In extreme cases, the quality of heat and moisture resistance can be compensated by auxiliary factory insulators. More importantly, the reeds themselves do not collapse under the influence of moisture. The same applies to snow with hail - properly laid reed roof is not exposed to mechanical influences. Perhaps the most dangerous climatic factor will be the wind, but in this part of the protective properties much depends on the reliability of fixing the coating. Reed stalks, thanks to the above mentioned flexibility, are not damaged in any way under similar loads - if the rigidity of the fastening is insufficient, the position of individual segments may change, but this is not critical and recoverable.

Reeds as a microclimate controller

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 the comfort of a person, reeds optimally monitor 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 through the roof into the house. It has already been said that this material does not emit harmful tar, but favorable micronutrients will be provided. At the same time, the quality of the circulation also depends on how the reed roof was formed. The coating device must be carried out simultaneously with the calculation for tightness and ventilation, which will allow to maintain the stability of the temperature and humidity regimes steadily. The optimal solution is to create a continuous coating without gaps, but with separate technological zones that form the very possibility of airflow circulation.

Disadvantages of reeds

There are serious shortcomings in this material. The main among them is the low threshold of refractoriness, that is, the susceptibility to ignition. In a hot time enough fire to spread fire on the roof. Reeds are burning well, and it is rather difficult to stop this process - especially since it is a question of the roof and, possibly, hard-to-reach areas. Prevent these phenomena allow special impregnations and modifiers, with which the stems are processed even before use. But in this case it is also necessary to forget about the ecological compatibility, since chemical treatment means most often contain harmful components. Among the shortcomings are noted and aesthetic qualities of appearance. Usually, the natural building material also has a dignity in the form of a natural texture, but in the case of a reed plant, the coating does not differ in decorative value. This can be seen from the example of a photo of a reed roof, which is presented below. However, much depends on the reed itself and the conditions of its exploitation.

General information on the technology of roofing

Laying is done by decking on the previously formed rafters. Before laying it is important to provide additional insulation barriers. It is desirable to use combined steam and water insulators, which will complement the function of moisture protection from the inside. The stems are previously prepared by sheaves with an angle of at least 30 degrees along the slope. This is not a strict limitation, but for a given roof, this angle will be optimal. It is also worth considering the time of the year in which the reed roof should fit. The installation principle with respect to seasonality indicates that warm time will be most favorable. In winter, the stems can be clogged with frozen water, which causes the material to swell. In the spring, in the process of melting, reeds return to their former state, while losing their structural integrity.

It is also widely believed that the structures themselves with a roof of this type should not be located under trees. This is explained by the fact that falling foliage contributes to the rotting of the material. In fact, it is for this reason that the reed roof is formed with a 30-degree skate angle at least. This is important not only for washing away dirt and debris, but also for a stable drain of rainwater.

Ways to fasten sheaves

To form sheaves, which then form a uniform sectional coating, use different ways of fastening. In particular, a firmware is implemented with the help of a wire. It reliably binds the stems and is reliable - the main thing is that the wire itself is not susceptible to corrosion processes. Distributed and the version of the firmware with fixing screws. The hardware carries out direct shearing of the sheaf with the bearing structure of the roof, also grabbing the yokes that encircle the reeds. Alternatively, fixation with nails can be suggested. They fasten the sheaves, which later the reed roof fits. The device of the roof can not do without the tools. To obtain a dense and hard coating, special constrictions and shovels-bits are used - they also perform alignment of the layers.

Preparing the roof for operation

After stacking, work on padding the plant material is followed. In fact, this is a more accurate fit of sheaves along the roof. Usually, such activities are carried out manually with the help of the same blades. At this stage it is important to check the quality of the strapping, the presence of insufficiently strong knots and large gaps. If in the process of preparing the stems there was no treatment with protective means, now is the time. Fire retardant is the most common fire-fighting drug that is treated with reed roofing. With your hands it can be applied with a special spray or garden spray, previously diluted with water. As practice shows, in addition to the fireproof properties, the flame retardant also gives the reeds moisture protection and biological resistance.

In what cases is it justified to use the roof of reeds?

Country houses and cottages of a large area are rarely covered with such a roof. With all its merits, reeds are not able to provide the same level of mechanical, hydrological and thermal resistance as polymeric and metallic materials. Although the latter also have many of their shortcomings. However, small outbuildings, cottages and summer houses are quite suitable for covering the reed roof. The testimonies indicate that in the summer time this is the best option for suburban temporary housing due to the optimal regulation of the microclimate.

Conclusion

Reeds are advisable to use when there are no high requirements for the characteristics of the roof. Of course, for a large solid house will require a long-lasting system, which will last for decades. Unfortunately, such periods of operation can not guarantee a reed roof. The mounting features allow a combined approach in the form of combining stems with the same waterproofing and reinforcing strength properties. But such solutions are impractical, because in this case the process of laying and the cost of the coating becomes more complicated. But this is not the main thing. The inclusion of additional artificial coating elements cancels the main advantage of such decking - eco-friendliness. And in this case the use of reeds becomes completely meaningless.