Because there are so many thatch dealers we feel you should make an educated choice when purchasing thatch. The following is our opinion on how to do so .

There are several different types of Thatching. 

• Irish thatch is a gathered thatch made of brush or straw and tied on one end.
  
• Mexican thatch is made of palm leaves woven together with knots on one side and a nice layered thatch on the other.
• African thatch is made of small reeds glued together at the top, a different look than the woven thatch.
  
• Haitian  is woven together in knots on one side like Mexican but the knots and the palm leaves are much larger and "knot" so pretty to look at.
  
• Vietnam and Mainland China have two types if thatch. The first is woven with the knot style the other is woven without knots. Both seem to be nice but not as durable as the Mexican or African reed thatch. s
  
• Nipa from the Philippines. This thatch is made from palm leaves wrapped around a bamboo slat on one end. Nice to look at and durable as well, but again a different style all together than the Mexican Palm Leaf  Thatch.

There are also several different styles or sizes.  For years there were two styles of  thatch. The classic 4' x 3' panel and 3 sizes 7', 9' and 12' of round diameter umbrella covers or palapa tops. Recently there have been some additions. The newest size is a 30" x 57' and 30" x 22' runner or skirt. A huge 15' diameter (round) umbrella cover or palapa top was introduced recently as well.
       

My company has been a dealer of thatching since 1949 and we have found the best thatch material is made in Mexico. We also sell thatch from the Philippines and Fiji. We have brought in samples from Vietnam and China and they do not appear to be as nicely and the craftsmenship is of less quality. I am sure there is good thatch from these countries but we have not found that dealer yet.

When purchasing from any thatch dealer you need to ask several questions.
#1. Where is this thatch made? Again we feel the best thatch comes from Mexico. In Mexico most thatch comes from the same region in the mountains of Puebla. Thatch is woven by the natives there by hand. There is small differences between each piece but for the most part it is minimal. Sizes, thickness and quality are all about the same from this region.
#3. What is the return policy? There should always be a return policy if if the policy is "No Returns"
#4. How long will this thatch last? All thatch lasts between 2 and 3 years. If anyone tells you differently they are not telling the truth. Birds, Heat, moisture all break down the thatch. It is afterall a natural product made from palm leaves in most cases. After a few months thatch might mildew. Because of moisture thatch tends to mildew and mold. The more air that circulates underneath the thatch the longer it will look good. The easiest thing to do is to plan for replacement every two years.
#5. What is the best way to install this thatch for my application. All I can say about this is the more experience in this field the better. The more years in this business the better. A company should know how to install, what materials work best and have good customer service for these subjects. We have dealt with every situation you can imagine in over 50 years of selling thatch.

If you go through this process you should have the ability to make a very informed and educated purchase. When you are ready to purchase here are some helpful links.