Thatched roof - a craftsmanship
There are various ways to process reed: it can be bound, sewn, or screwed. The reed on the roofs in the open-air museum is bound to the roof battens in bundles, forming a waterproof layer. Originally, many of the houses were covered with long-straw rye, but the required rye varieties are no longer cultivated. Therefore, reed (cane) is now used in the museum as a substitute for rye straw.
Originally, many of the houses were covered with long-straw rye, but the required rye varieties are no longer cultivated. Therefore, reed (cane) is now used in the museum as a substitute for rye straw.
There are various advantages of reed roofs. They offer good insulation, as the cane forms a natural air-filled protective layer that supports temperature regulation in both summer and winter, creating a pleasant indoor climate.
Reed roofs can last for several decades. However, they require regular maintenance as the cane is susceptible to rot and pest infestation. There are only a few companies today that offer the craft of reed roof covering. On average, it takes one person about an hour of work for one square meter.
What is that lying on the roof?
The Mindener Hof from the Nienburg district has been in the museum since the late 1960s. The Low German hall house is presented in the state around 1800 and has a thatched roof typical for the time. This season, the roof is being re-thatched by a company.
Reed is a natural, renewable resource. For use as roofing material, it is characterized by high strength and stability and is very weather resistant. It also brings favourable properties for the climate in the house. In summer, a thatched roof keeps cool, while it insulates in winter. Reed was only used regionally for roofing in Central Europe in the past, namely near lakes, moors, and larger wetlands where reed grew and could be harvested in large quantities.
The houses in the open-air museum had long-stemmed rye straw roof coverings at their original locations instead. The necessary rye varieties are no longer grown today. Therefore, reed is used in the museum today as a replacement for rye straw.