Reeds – return to the roots

A return to traditional building methods that value natural materials can be seen in the growing interest in reeds as a sustainable roofing material in recent years. For centuries, reeds have been valued for their robustness, insulating qualities, and environmental friendliness by numerous cultures across the globe. Reeds are an eco-friendly roofing material of choice for builders who care about the environment because they are renewable and biodegradable, in contrast to modern roofing materials that need to be processed heavily and have a big impact on the environment.

The resurgence of reed roofing is indicative of a larger trend in sustainable building and architecture. Using reeds allows builders to lessen their carbon footprint while maintaining time-tested, traditional building methods. In addition to providing superior insulation against heat and cold, reeds also contribute a natural aesthetic that blends in well with the surroundings.

Because they are plentiful and have many uses, reeds have historically been used for roofing everywhere from the Netherlands to Japan. Reed roofs are becoming more and more popular among architects and homeowners due to their unique appearance, cultural significance, and environmental benefits. Reeds offer a convincing substitute for synthetic materials that fits with both current sustainability objectives and conventional building knowledge, which is why communities are drawn to them.

Properties of reeds as a finishing material

Let’s first define what the term "reed" actually means.

The difficulties of terminology

The truth is that reeds, cirow, and reed are three species of lake and water plants that are extremely similar to one another.

The genus Kamysh (scirpus) belongs to the Savokov family of plants and is rarely an annual. More than 250 species worldwide. About twenty species are found in the USSR, growing in water and in moist areas. TO. lake, also known as kuga (s. Lacustris), is a peat former that frequently forms large thickets. Its stems, which can grow up to 2.5 meters high, are used to weave a variety of goods as well as for packaging, heat insulation, and construction purposes. A plant belonging to the cereal family, reeds are mistakenly referred to as reeds. Outstanding Soviet Encyclopaedia [Article058385.HTML, bse.Sci-Lib.COM]

The monocodial plants of the cornea family belong to the genus Rogoz (typha). It has both narrow and broad leaves. One-day perennial water or swamp herb with a long, thick creeping rhizome that reaches a height of 3 to 4 meters. about 20 species that are virtually universally distributed. Inflorescences are used to extract cellulose, which is then combined with animal hair to make felt. Stems can be used as building materials, packaging, and thermal insulation. Outstanding Soviet Lexicon Bse.Sci-Lib.COM/Article097278. The URL is HTML.

Plants in the genus Reed (PhragMits) belong to the cereal family. Large, creeping, perennial herbs that grow to a height of 0.5 to 5 meters. Leaf plates are up to 5 cm wide and linearly lanceolate. Usually grows into thickets, especially large ones in floodplains, southern rivers’ lower reaches, and deltas. Cattle and horses eat young plants, long before they flower. It is used to produce reeds, which are useful for covering roofs, creating hedges, wicker products, and gross paper varieties. Reeds are also used as building materials and heat-insulators. erroneously called reeds a lot. Outstanding Soviet Encyclopaedia You can access bse.Sci-Lib.COM/Article112431.html by using this URL.

Despite the fact that they appear to be very different, I discovered that the majority of my friends do not even know the distinction between reeds and ceremony. The amusing thing is that all of these kinds are suitable for growing on roofs. For instance, reed and rogoz are common in the southern countries and Central Asia, respectively. They are nearly identical in terms of their operational attributes. But for some reason, these kinds of roofs are all referred to as reeds. We’ll take this lead, particularly since reed roofs are still more common in Russia.

The unique qualities of reeds

For thousands of years, reeds have been utilized as roofing material. And not just in situations where the house was built in an isolated location. This material’s distinctive features, affordability, and longevity made it highly valued worldwide. Thousands of documents, such as the drawing of Kozatsky Khata from Vadim Shcherbakivsky’s book "Ukrainian Narodnoye Mistezt. Ornamental Ukrainian Hati," which was published in Rome in 1980, attest to this.

Reeds were not just used for roofing in Central Asia; they were also occasionally mixed with clay instead of straw to make plaster and bricks. Such clay was referred to as "Saman," as were the homes built with such bricks.

The traditions of covering the roof with reeds and using it for other purposes in Central Asia have been preserved so far. In the market, private traders from the rod villages sell shields from reeds of different thicknesses – for roofs and fences. In my Tashkent house, beds and landing were fenced off from dogs with low reeds. In the first few years, they are very beautiful – golden and glossy, then darken, but still create an inexpressibly beautiful flavor. And on the site with the house where I grew up, we had household buildings covered with reeds – apples and grapes were stored there all winter, because in the room covered with reeds, dampness and mold will never be started.

Reeds are employed in more ways than just adult clay additives and roofing materials. Reeds are used to make mats that line walls and act as thermal and acoustic insulation.

After a protracted break, Kamysh returned to construction as people’s aspirations for pure ecology became more and more prevalent in today’s technologically advanced world. Furthermore, a large number of Russian businesses are currently harvesting canopies for reed roofs, cultivating a particular type of this natural material in particular.

The documentary "Reeds – Return to the Roots" delves into the revival of reed roofing methods, emphasizing both their cultural and environmental value. This article explores the ways in which reeds, a centuries-old roofing material, are enjoying a renaissance in contemporary times because of their inherent insulation qualities and sustainability. This essay demonstrates why reed roofs are a viable option for sustainable building in the present and the future, not just a throwback to the past, by looking at their resilience in a variety of climates and their function in maintaining historic architecture.

Advantages and disadvantages of the reed roof

Reeds, or any of its varieties, are a completely unique roofing material.

His indisputable qualities:

• not subject to decay and deformation – resistant to heat, hard ultraviolet, cold, temperature difference, precipitation and winds;
• The stems and sheaves are flexible, which means that you can realize the most whimsical architectural fantasies about the roof;
• has excellent thermal insulation properties;
• It has good soundproofing qualities-you will not hear the noise of rain, hail, wind due to the structure of hollow stems and their large amounts in sheaves;
• provides natural ventilation of the attic and subcutaneous space due to some looseness of the structure of sheaves and hollow stems;
• racks to fungi and mold because of their lake-reciped origin;
• With proper processing, it is not fire hazard – and without processing reeds and its varieties, like marsh plants, burn poorly;
• Durable – in this sense, it is not inferior to synthetic roofing materials, moreover, for several decades, reeds do not need to be cleaned, painted and repaired;
• Such a roof does not need a thunderbrow, since it does not accumulate static electricity;
• The main quality of reeds is amazing artistry and authenticity. The house with such a roof looks like a real work of art and will never be like the surrounding buildings.

Should the reed roof repair become necessary at any point, it is relatively simple to carry out and the "patch" will quickly become the same color as the primary coating.

Its non-critical flaws are:

• Changing color over time-from golden to grayish-earthly, but this will emphasize its environmental friendliness and nobility;
• With loose laying it, birds can become enemies – either by arranging the nests, or pulling the stems to the nests in another place;
• rodents can settle in the reed coat, which is eliminated by the corresponding preliminary processing of the material;
• In our conditions and in our time, the construction of such a roof is a rather expensive pleasure. The square meter only from five hundred to two thousand rubles will cost the material, and along with the work of highly paid (due to the rarity of the profession) craftsmen-from 6 to 8 thousand;
• A rather complicated styling that requires either a thoughtful study of technology or attracting masters.

Photo gallery: reed roofs

Such a log house is made of environmentally friendly materials from the basement to the roof. Special technology allows you to lay reeds without hitting and combing, which looks very beautiful from the reeds, you can even make very complex roofs this very old Ukrainian hut, but it can be perfectly grown from the reeds. A beautiful roof in the “Pagoda” style in the gazebo with an interesting skate used two styling technologies to make the roof even, it is also a special tool that happens – the reeds of the roof falls into the entrance if you wish to have a complex roof, the main complexity is not in laying the reeds, but in the device Capaches of a reed roof can have the form of sculpture when working on the roof you need to have devices for workers insurance – reeds are very slippery

Examining the age-old technique of using reeds to thatch roofs reveals a timeless link to our architectural history. Reeds have been used for centuries as a natural, long-lasting, and sustainable roofing material in a variety of climates. This age-old craft reflects regional artistry and environmental care while also embodying practicality and cultural significance.

Selecting reed roofing is in line with modern environmental concerns and signifies a return to sustainable building methods. Because they are renewable and biodegradable, reeds have less of an impact on the environment than synthetic materials. They are a compelling option for environmentally conscious homeowners looking to lessen their carbon footprint because of their use, which supports regional economies and conserves traditional knowledge.

Because of its special advantages, reed thatching is still a good choice in spite of contemporary innovations. It effectively absorbs sound and naturally controls indoor temperature, keeping homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. For people who value comfort and energy efficiency in their homes, reed thatching is a desirable option because of its inherent versatility.

Video on the topic

Roof from reeds.Reed roof

Is the reed roof burn (roof)?

What does the reeds look like after 10 years of operation?