Fire Retardants for Thatch, Tiki & Bamboo

As the weather warms and the human population peaks out from quarantine, some make the mad dash for the beach. And bars and restaurants and swimming pools and other coastal businesses often have tiki huts, bamboo walls and thatch roofs, all of which can catch fire pretty easily. The fire marshals are there to make sure that doesn't happen, bless their hearts. 

RDR offers several fire retardants specifically for exterior natural materials like thatch. Since thatch is naturally water resistant, we usually recommend a clear intumescent topcoat that can withstand the elements for several years. Here are a few that we list:

• Thatch Safe
• FX Lumber Guard XT
• 1DS for Thatch

These are from different manufacturers, have different coverage rates and different price points, but it all tends to average out. The more expensive coatings have better coverage rates, for instance.

Applying retardant to a thatch roof can be difficult, depending on the size and the pitch. Sometimes a cherry-picker may be necessary. You can apply with an airless sprayer set at low pressure, or a backpack sprayer or small Hudson sprayer. It is very important to get as much of the frond surface as you can, and that includes spraying the inside of the roof as well. Follow the instructions regarding number of coats, coverage rates and thickness. Every product is a little different.

Also pay attention to humidity, chances of rain, and the moisture content of the fronds. If you spray the fronds while they are green, the retardant may very well flake off. Likewise, if there is too much humidity and you apply too thickly, it could flake off. Multiple, thinner coats are recommended. Make sure each layer is dry before putting on the next.

There will often be a bit of a shine to the coated leaves, since this is a topcoat, but that will wear off pretty quickly. 

Even bars in landlocked states will be building more tiki structures due to the pandemic, so just be aware that fire marshals hate them. So order enough product, apply it properly, take pictures, keep the receipt and the empties. As much as fire marshals hate thatch, they love documentation.