How to Thatch a Tiki Bar
Tiki huts are simple structures that consist of bamboo or wood frames and palm-thatched roofs. Typically built beach-side throughout the tropics, tiki huts and bars constructed near pools or in backyards create an island paradise. While natural thatch materials are the most environmentally friendly roofing option for tiki huts and bars, synthetic materials are also available to thatch a roof. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Palm fronds (or other thatch material)
- Twine, rope or wire
- Wood or bamboo frame
Instructions
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Collect dried palm fronds from the ground or fresh fronds by cutting them away from where they meet the tree at the trunk. Commonwealth Roofing Corp. suggests long, single-branched fronds, like those of king, queen or kentia palm trees. If you don't live in an area where palm fronds are readily available, check with your local nurseries or order roof thatching supplies online.
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Strip individual palm stalks of one side of their leaves, as they will lay on top of each other to create a tight-knit roof. If you're using fanned palm fronds, divide them along their natural folds (fronds open like an accordion, giving them natural "bends" or folds) into three pieces; split coconut palm fronds straight down the spine. The website, Secrets-of-Shed-Building.com states that traditional tiki huts require as many as 10,000 palm fronds to create effective, water-tight roofs, but small bars will require a fraction of this.
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Tie two palm fronds together at their ends with rope, twine or wire to create a solid panel. The leaves should point in the same direction, and one should overlap the other. Tie the ends of your palm fronds to the frame with rope or wire, or add another frond to the group, overlapping the second frond in the same manner it overlaps the first. Be sure to layer the palm fronds tightly enough to survive mild tests of the elements.
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Continue to build panels together and attach them in the same, overlapping manner until they cover the width of your tiki bar. Work your way from the bottom of the roof to the top, overlapping each subsequent layer on the last.
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Tips & Warnings
While tiki huts usually feature thatched roofs made of palm fronds, long straw, water reed, wheat reed or flax, grasses and heather are other materials used to thatch roofs.
Treat your tiki bar's thatch roof and wooden pieces with a fire retardant to prevent an accidental blaze.
Palm thatch rolls that you can staple or nail to a frame are a simple alternative to authentic thatching.
Slope the panels of your thatch roof at enough of an angle for rain water to run off easily.
Beware of thorns and bug infestations of self-collected palm fronds.
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
