Thatched Roof Options in the South Pacific Islands
In the South Pacific islands, the choice of thatched roof is influenced by a number of factors:
1. Types of thatch materials
Coconut leaves
Features: Coconut trees are widely distributed in the South Pacific islands, and coconut leaves are a common thatch material. Coconut leaves are usually tough and moderate in length, and a single coconut leaf can have a large cover area. Its fiber is relatively tough, can withstand a certain degree of wind and rain erosion. And coconut leaves have a natural luster, green or yellow-green, giving the roof a tropical feel.
Applicable building type: Suitable for all sizes of dwellings, from small wooden houses to larger traditional tribal meeting houses. For example, in some traditional villages in Fiji, many houses use coconut leaves as a thatched roof material, and the woven roof complements the surrounding coconut grove landscape.
Leaves of Pandanus
Features: Pandanus leaves are slender, ribbon-like, with serrated edges. Its texture is relatively soft, but it also has a certain toughness. Pandanus leaves are usually longer and narrower than coconut leaves, and are generally dark green in color, turning pale brown when dried. This material can form a tight structure during the weaving process, which can effectively block sunlight and rain.
Applicable building type: Because of its softness and weavability, it is often used to build some decorative building structures, such as small pavilions and seaside awnings. In Samoa, roofs woven with pandanus leaves are used in some seaside leisure buildings, under which visitors can enjoy the sea breeze and sea view.
Sago palm leaves
Features: West Valley coconut leaves are relatively wide, the shape is similar to a fan, and the leaves are thicker. The leaves are rich in fiber and strong. It is usually bright green in color and turns slightly yellow as it matures. West Valley coconut leaves can still maintain a good shape after drying and are not easy to deform or break.
Applicable building type: Suitable for the construction of large buildings, such as tribal public warehouses or large places of worship. In some hill tribes of Papua New Guinea, West Valley coconut leaves are used to build buildings for storing food and sacrificial supplies, and their wide leaves provide a large cover area to ensure that the interior space of the building is dry.
Second, durability and maintenance needs
durability
Different thatch materials have different durability. Coconut leaves can be used for 3-5 years if they are properly treated, such as drying, smoking, etc. For example, after smoking coconut leaves, the fibers inside become tougher and can resist the attack of some insects. The relative durability of pandanus leaves is slightly poor, generally 2-3 years need to replace some damaged leaves. West Valley coconut leaves can last 4-6 years under good conditions because their thick leaf structure makes them more resistant to wind, rain and sun.
Maintenance requirement
Thatched roofs require regular maintenance. For all types of thatch roofs, it is necessary to check regularly for breakage, water accumulation, etc. If the coconut leaf roof has damaged leaves, it needs to be replaced with new leaves in time, and some natural waterproof oils (such as oils extracted from certain plant seeds) can be regularly applied to the roof surface to enhance water resistance. Pandanus leaf roofs may need to be checked more frequently for loose or wind-blown leaves because of their relatively soft leaves. In the maintenance of the roof, the focus is to clean up the debris on the roof and check whether the edge of the leaf is cracked, because its wide leaves are easy to accumulate impurities
In order to solve this shortcoming of natural thatch, JHYBamboo has launched artificial palm leaves, and tropical synthetic thatch, made of special reinforced plastic, our tropical synthetic thatch is made of natural thatch as a membrane, so it does not affect the beauty of the roof, and we add flame retardants to improve the durability and flame retardancy of the roof.
The common problems of purchasing JHY products, regarding the qualification of our factory, our ordering method, and the transportation method have mature operation mechanism, to ensure that you can ensure the quality and quantity in the procurement process and fast. We can make it easy for you.
