Ideas for fake thatch

[sime42]

Osier matting?

[MattyF]

Giant dubbin loop using string and straw in a drill , combed back layered and brushed flat. 

[Steve Bullman]

45 minutes ago, MattyF said:

Giant dubbin loop using string and straw in a drill , combed back layered and brushed flat. 

Can you expand on that please?

[peds]

1 hour ago, MattyF said:

Giant dubbin loop ...

 

14 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

Can you expand on that please?

 

Google images corrects dubbin to dubbing, and suggests the following. 

I think coconut matting might still be the winner.

 

[MattyF]

1 hour ago, Steve Bullman said:

Can you expand on that please?

So you would take some string , a bit more than double the length you need , I would take a nail on the far end of the string lay the straw along the string in a thin layer, fold the string back so the straw is sandwiched and then tie off on to a hook in a drill , spin the drill and you have all the straw all fixed in the string. 
Lay it down to your roof and brush it flat , repeat a few times and it should look like a thatched roof… maybe the matting is a better idea 😂

I think if you had a play around you could get the effect you wanted with the dubbing and once you find what you want it’s actually a pretty quick method. 

[Steve Bullman]

19 minutes ago, MattyF said:

So you would take some string , a bit more than double the length you need , I would take a nail on the far end of the string lay the straw along the string in a thin layer, fold the string back so the straw is sandwiched and then tie off on to a hook in a drill , spin the drill and you have all the straw all fixed in the string. 
Lay it down to your roof and brush it flat , repeat a few times and it should look like a thatched roof… maybe the matting is a better idea 😂

I think if you had a play around you could get the effect you wanted with the dubbing and once you find what you want it’s actually a pretty quick method. 

Still clear as mud 😀

[peds]

22 minutes ago, MattyF said:

...once you find what you want it’s actually a pretty quick method. 

 

I think I understand, and I've put hundreds of hours into building stuff for my kids... but I think backcombing a thatched roof for even a small-ish playhouse would be a bit more time than I'd be willing to donate.

 

 

[MattyF]

Staple some straw and trim it instead .. I dunno mate ,I may have a play for you tomorrow night and put some pics up , it should not involved any back combing, as the drill effectively makes a line and does the work for you but keeps the straw in place on the string so it won’t / can’t move  … you would then have to staple the lines you have made to the roof. 

[peds]

Turns out I don't understand after all. 

[daveatdave]

what sort of area do you want to cover