The Umbrella Thatch: A Cheaper Alternative to a Balinese Hut

The Umbrella Thatch creates a relaxed and tropical look and feel to your outdoor area. The umbrella thatch is a cheaper alternative to the balinese hut, although made from the same natural material (alang-alang grass), because it is only on one post, the actual structure is more cost effective to make, therefore lessening the sale price. Umbrella thatches fit neatly into an outdoor table and are sturdy and reliable. They are easy to put and put down and keep your outdoor area cooler by up to 15 degrees compared to other roofs. This is because the alang alang grass acts like a natural insulator and regulates the flow of cool and warm air much better than say a corrugated roof or sail cloth.

For the best price on the umbrella thatch, call Matt’s Homes today on 1300 62 88 77.

The Umbrella Thatch from Matt’s Homes & Outdoor Designs

Thatch Umbrella from Matt’s Homes

Why Thatch Roofing Is a Popular Choice For Backyards and Renovations

Over the years, there has been an increase of people looking to turn their outdoor area into a tropical retreat. The easiest way to do this is by installing a balinese hut, african thatch or thatch umbrella. Just why is thatch roofing becoming an increasingly popular choice for backyards and outdoor renovations. Read on to find out…

Compared to steel, corrugated iron or shad cloths, thatch roofing ensures that your outdoor area will remain much cooler than these other roof types. Steel in particular captures heat and shade cloths only provide sun protection. Thatch roofing can get up to 10 – 15 degrees cooler in summer, because the material acts like a natural insulator. Remember thatch roofing is predominantly found in places like Bali (hence the name balinese hut) and so were originally designed with heat protection in mind.

Another reason people have responded so well to thatch roofing is that the material is not 100% airtight. If you put a balinese hut over your spa area, you needn’t worry about steam being captured in the roof. A steel roof would capture the moisture on the roof, however because the steam can escape in thatch roofing, it provides a much better outdoor gazebo option, particularly over spas or pools.

More and more people are choosing products these days based on not only design and aesthetic reasons, but environmental ones. Thatch roofing is made from natural materials. The balinese hut is made from alang-alang grass and the african thatch from cape reed tiles. Make sure the timber you use for the frame and poles is non-arsenic treated timber, which is much safer for the environment, plants and animals.

Luckily though, design and aesthetics is not a problem when buying thatch roofing. Many people are responding positively to the tropical look and feel of the balinese hut. They certainly have a flow about them that other roofs don’t offer. In our busy western lifestyle, it is lovely to transform your backyard into your very own holiday destination with thatch roofing. The African thatch is a great option if you want to blend in your roof with your existing one and the balinese hut and thatch umbrella is excellent if you are looking to create a tropical feel.

Lastly, the thatch umbrella is a cost effective version for thatch roofing. It is a simple and easy to pull up and down outdoor gazebo that would insert effortlessly into your outdoor table, providing great shading and comfort.

If you are looking for competitively priced thatch roofing, visit Matt’s Homes or call now on 1300 62 88 77. Mention this blog and get 5% off your next purchase.

Transform your backyard into a tropical retreat.

Thatch Roofing: What’s the Difference Between the African Thatch, Balinese Hut & Thatch Umbrellas?

Thatch roofing is an increasingly popular choice for outdoor gazebos. There are many reasons for this because it meets a range of criteria, from an economical, environmental and aesthetic point of view. There are a few different choices of thatch roofing on the marketing, including the african thatch, balinese hut and thatch umbrellas. What is the difference between these three? Read on to find out…

The African Thatch is a natural product that is unique in that it both cools and heats conversely. During the hot summer months, the breathing quality of the cape reed tiling ensures that it maintains a daytime temperature that is lower than other products that don’t allow so much air to pass through (such as tin, roof tiles etc). You can even drop the temperature further by wetting the thatch roof, which has an evaporative cooling effect.

When the temperature lowers at night, the african thatch traps air, making it warmer to sit under, due to its greater insulation properties. There is a remarkable difference in the degree or intensity of heat when sitting under an african thatch, compared to a shade-cloth, tin or polycarbonate roof.

The insulation properties also means that you can use over heated pools and spas without there being a dripping roof, commonly associated with other roof products on the market.

The African thatch is a sturdy product, having been used in many places in Australia that are prone to storms and even cyclonic winds. In addition, cape reed thatch offers optimum UV protection and is an environmentally friendly product, cropped from a renewable resource.

Aesthetically pleasing, you will be able to spot an african thatch roof because of its thatch tile look. The tile design can be placed onto existing structures or custom designed frameworks. Long treated pine thatch poles and kin-dried arsenic free treated pine roof frame can all serve to complement any existing colours you have around your home, from colour bond roofs to darker tiled or slate roofs.

The Balinese Hut is made from hand woven alang-alang grass and are a tradition in Bali. They have been used by the Balinese people as a place to unwind and also shield themselves from the intensity of the sun’s rays. The balinese hut has a much more breezy, cool and relaxed look than the african thatch, with a somewhat shaggy exterior. They certainly give your backyard or pool area a tropical feel and come in many different styles and designs. Like the african thatch, the balinese hut is a cooler outdoor gazebo than one made with tin, polycarbonate or shadecloth. The main difference between the african thatch and balinese hut is to do with the look and feel. Whilst the african thatch can blend better into more environments, the balinese hut has a slightly more tropical feel.

Lastly, thatched umbrellas are very similar to the balinese hut and are also made from hand woven alang-alang grass. Rather than being on four posts (like the african thatch and balinese hut), thatched umbrellas stand alone on a long treated pine thatch pole. They are an affordable alternative to the bali huts on the market and are also very easy to put up and down. Thatched umbrellas are 99% waterproof, up to 15 degrees cooler than other materials and have a long life span. If price is a concern, then the thatched umbrellas are the way to go, however if you are in a location which is prone to high winds or storms, then you may wish to go with a sturdier product like the balinese hut or african thatch. A heavy base, as well as a table supports the thatched umbrellas and if you are experiencing high winds, just simply drop down your umbrella thatch, remove from the base and lay down.

If you are looking for thatch roofing, then visit Matt’s Homes & Outdoor Designs. They have a large range of all three thatch roofings listed above and can help you choose the most suitable product to match your home and make your backyard area stand out.

Call them now on 1300 62 88 77 or visit Matt’s Homes. 

Top 3 Reasons Why Bali Huts Are The Best Outdoor Gazebo

If you want the most economical and environmental outdoor gazebo for your backyard or decking area, then you must check out bali huts. Balinese huts are an increasingly popular option for those that want to turn their backyard into a tropical retreat. 

Here are the top 3 reasons why bali huts are the best outdoor gazebo on the market:

1. Temperature:

Bali huts are made from alang-alang grass from Bali. They are immediately eye-catching and will automatically add a tropical feel to your home. They are cooler in summer, because unlike steal roofing, which captures heat, the Balinese thatch roofing acts as a natural insulator and can be up to 10 degrees cooler during the hot summer months. Having dinner parties and relaxing in the shade of your Bali thatch with friends and family and not having to worry about the heat is why bali huts is the perfect option for your outdoor gazebo.

2. Design

Unfortunately most outdoor gazebos look rigid and quite cold in your backyard, but bali huts have a flow about them that makes it hard not to relax. Choosing a balinese hut can make your backyard feel like you have your own private holiday destination. Put the thatch over your spa and put aside any worries you may have about steam being captured in the roof. Balinese thatch roofing is not 100% airtight so it allows the steam to escape, unlike steel which would capture the moisture on the roof.

3. Environmental 

Made from natural materials, bali huts is an environmentally friendly choice for your outdoor gazebo. Choosing the right materials is becoming an ever increasing importance, not just for environmental reasons, but for safety too. Check that the timber used you are purchasing is non – arsenic treated timber, which is safer for the environment, people and animals. A timber frame with a balinese thatch blends in with your backyard environment much better, so is the perfect choice for the structure of your outdoor gazebo.

As you can see there are many great benefits to using hand woven alang-alang grass, from an aesthetic, environmental and economical point of view. A great place to get bali huts from, that come in kit form, making it easy to assemble is Matt’s Homes. They also have the african thatch and thatch umbrellas to choose from in their quality range.