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Friday 11 September 2015

Millions of Pounds to go Up in Flames

Insurance is, often rather harshly, regarded as an infernal industry; but in regards to thatched properties the adjective is proving rather justifiable.

For millions of pounds will continue to be paid out for chimney fires in the UK if troubling trends continue.

Insurers NFU Mutual insist that chimney fire claims, which could amount to £4million last year alone, are almost entirely avoidable.

We recently reported on Assets to Ashes, a campaign set up by NFU Mutual which is intended to raise awareness of property fires which are more prevalent in the winter months. As specialist thatched property insurers, E&G Homes - our home and contents insurance branch - feels particularly inclined to promote awareness.

Indeed, Chloe Drinkwater, a specialist at NFU Mutual, has stressed that thatched properties are susceptible to particularly destructive conflagrations:

“Many homeowners do not appreciate the additional cost of re-building a property, particularly if it is thatched, so it is important that people check that their buildings and contents are properly insured should a fire occur,” she explained.

For specialist Thatched property insurance, click here.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Wood Burning Stoves: from craze to blaze
















No self-respecting country cottage cognoscente isn’t in want of a fashionable wood burning stove, but concerns are mounting that they might cost thatched property owners more than they bargained for.

As the trend for retro fire appliances grows, so do the number of thatched roof fires caused by the embers that they create.

According to Shaun Milton of the Wiltshire Fire Service, wood burning stoves give off hotter embers because they are more efficient burners. It is when these embers are blown up through the chimney and settle on the thatched roof that fires break out.

In our last post, we reported that thatched roof fires happen, on average, twice a week. Such instances are usually owing to neglect, against which Milton warned in an interview with BBC News.

The BBC reported that scientists of the Fire Protection Association were investigating how thatched roof chimney fires occur. This week the BBC also reported that scientists were investigating why scientists investigate questions which are apparently obvious.

Iain McCaig of Historic England says that fires must be attended at all times, and manufacturer’s instructions followed carefully.




For specialist thatched property insurance, click here.



  

Chimney Fire Safety Week

To anticipate the spectre of thatched property fires ahead of winter, Chimney Fire Safety Week began yesterday.

The brainchild of the Chief Fire Officers Association, the initiative coincides with the onset of what is expected to be a frigid end of the year, when people begin to use stoves and fires again.

Although it targets the owners of all types of properties, thatched properties are of primary concern.

Final straw

The campaign addresses a burgeoning anxiety in the thatched roof community about the safety of their homes. Home owners are right to be concerned: two thatched properties a week burn down across Britain.

The Island Echo reports that 90% of fires in thatched houses are caused by chimney and flue faults. Mark Abram of the Chief Fire Officers Association counted the burning of unsuitable wood and use of incorrectly sized appliances as other possible flashpoints.

Abram recommends that property owners utilise that humble British institution - the chimney sweep - as a preventative measure.

From one group of thatch enthusiasts to another, E&G wishes the thatched property community a safe autumn and winter.



  • For an insurance quote on your thatched property, click here

  • For a list of safety tips for thatched properties, click here

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Fire destroys historic thatched cottages in Limerick village


Fire destroys historic thatched cottages in Limerick village

The dwellings were among the last 11 remaining thatched cottages built by Lord Adare between 1835 and 1870 and are a huge tourist draw.

In August 2012, James Lee from Ballyorgan reroofed the cottage owned by Jane and Henrietta Benson using about one and a half tonnes of reed harvested from the banks of the Shannon at Coonagh and Bunratty. He spoke about his sadness and shock at the destruction.













Click here to read more

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Thatched cottage gutted by fire in Mareham on the Hill


Sadly, another one! 

Nine fire crews attended a thatched house fire in Main Road, Mareham on the Hill, near Horncastle last night.
Four hose reel jets, two cobra and breathing appliances were used to extinguish the blaze.



Wednesday 21 January 2015

Thatched cottage fire in Thrupp, near Kidlington

 
Another sad fire to report I’m afraid.  It was reported yesterday in the oxford mail that…… “EIGHT fire engines are currently dealing with a blaze in a thatched cottage in Canal Road, Thrupp, near Kidlington.

The fire broke out in the roof of the cottage located in a row of homes at about 6pm.

Firefighters have prevented the blaze from spreading to the neighbouring properties.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue group manager Gary Cooper confirmed at 9.30pm crews WERE still using hoses to dampen the thatch and were in the process of salvaging property from the cottage.”

 Thank goodness it was prevented from spreading, but sadly the cottage itself was pretty much destroyed.  This follows another Oxfordshire thatch fire on Jan 15th at Roke Marsh near Wallingford. In that one, ‘gas canisters’ were mentioned, but no further information released.



Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Link to the North Norfolk Reed Cutters Association

And this is where it all comes from – well, much of it anyway.

Reed cutting has been a way of life for generations of people in Norfolk.  The reed grow without the need for additional fertiliser or pesticide and the beds themselves also create an important habitat for wildlife.  Add to that the fact that this particular land is really no good for anything else and you can see that your thatched roof is providing so many things including work, natural habitat and valuable land usage.


Quite amazing that on a roof, Norfolk reed can last up to 70 years!  Not great news for thatchers I guess with only one visit per generation!!

Anyway, an interesting site and well worth a visit.

“This is the website for the North Norfolk Reed Cutters Association, the organisation that represents the cutters that manage the reed beds of the North Norfolk Coast and the Broads Reed and Sedge Cutters Association which represents cutters working in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.”


Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Thursday 15 January 2015

Thatched house in the sand dunes in Denmark

Now this is a beautiful sight

No, that isn’t snow, it is sand.  I found this picture on the http://www.sellahouseonline.co.uk/ site – and thought I’d best share it!  What a place for a holiday – in Denmark.  If I findout how you can rent it, I will let you know.  

       


Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Wednesday 14 January 2015

Fire Safety for Thatch from the Thatch Advice Centre

The Thatch Advice Centre has published a leaflet outlining many of the steps which you can take to make your home safer.  Of course it is all quite obvious stuff about electrical safety, chimney sweeping, smoking, kitchen safety etc.  HOWEVER, IT IS STILL WORTH A READ!  We all need reminding of the obvious from time to time!




Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Friday 9 January 2015

Thatch Advice Centre Website

The Thatch Advice Centre is launching a new website and directory.  This website is a free resource for anyone who owns or maintains a thatched property.

TAC is run by Master Thatchers and thatched home owners and aims to give out the benefit of many years of experience.  The aim of their directory is to offer relevant, useful and up to date information about suppliers of relevant services so that customers can make informed decision about whatever they are doing or planning with their thatched property.

There is information on types of thatch, materials, care programmes, fire safety etc – everything you could hope to know.



Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Wednesday 7 January 2015

Thatch fire breaks out in Dorset

A vigilant neighbour raised the alarm when smoke was spotted coming from a thatched property in a Dorset village.
The fire broke out around 1.30pm this afternoon in Fontmell Magna.
Crews from Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and Blandford fire stations attended the blaze.