Wattle and Daubed Roof

Home-grown Elm poles used as roof rafters. At Orchard Barn we are blessed with an abundance of young Elm trees. Sadly they reach about 15 years old when they begin to die from Dutch Elm. We fell them at this stage. Happily they are just the right size for roof rafters.

We use coppiced Sweet Chestnut for the battens. In between the battens are lengths of riven Hazel. On top of the Hazel we have applied a daub. Whilst the daub was still wet we fitted second-hand Flemish pantiles.

A traditional Wattle and Daub Roof has many advantages:-

• Keeps wind out
• Daub absorbs any water ingress through the old pantiles
• Layer of insulation
• Pantiles are 'stuck' down to the daub 
• Use of free materials
• Natural organic look

When you work with traditional/natural building materials it is important to work with the seasons. Both Sweet Chestnut and Hazel are coppiced during the winter. Split and use as green as possible early spring. Daub needs warmth to 'set', so best applied between April and August.

This roof replicates a 19th century wattle and daubed roof that we first found at Orchard Barn where we run courses in Wattle and Daub.