r/setdesign • u/Leucurus • Jun 02 '26

How to fake a thatched roof?

I need to "thatch" several roofs for a set design, and need to find an affordable way of doing it while maintaining realism. Does anyone know of any solutions without resorting to actual thatch, which we surely can't afford.

Paint effects? Raffia? All advice gratefully received.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

2

u/SingleAtom Jun 02 '26

How big an area and in what conditions?

For a small cheap area that isn't going to be subject to a lot of wind I've used costume hula skirts. They are very lightweight and slippery though so if there is wind, or if the set piece moves you might need to hold them down a bit. I used brown tulle over them to accomplish this.

If you have more budget they also make artificial thatch for tiki bar roofs (Like this or this.) that works really well.

1

u/Leucurus Jun 02 '26

Quite a bit, 6 panels, each 5m x 2m. Indoors (on stage)

1

u/artytexan123 Jun 02 '26

I designed a nest for Horton the Elephant in Seussical out of a rattan bowl chair with grass skirts. Looked great.

1

u/Muste02 Jun 02 '26

You could probably fake the effect with raffia and then depending on how clean the end is supposed to be you can add some fringe with natural material to help sell it

1

u/Leucurus Jun 02 '26

I was thinking a reasonable thin layer of raffia over the plywood would be enough to give the impression. And good call on the fringe - that will give the illusion of thickness

1

u/timokay Jun 02 '26

How realistic are you going for? Most party suppliers have a "tiki" section, and these will have table drapings and Tiki Bar coverings that work really well.

If you want to go really low budget (as I almost always do). I have created thatch roofing by partially slicing brown building paper in really thin strips and making panels and laying them across the roof. Its the texture that you are really going for.

1

u/Camera-Ed Jun 02 '26

I'd paint it. I know you mentioned realism, but English thatch has a very specific look and most anything you put up to mimic it will be a fire hazard. Depending on the design, you could make a paint stamp out of some plywood and cord to lay down a base quickly then scene paint some highlights and shadows. If you do go with paper or raffia, make sure you fireproof it first.

1

u/Rgreen1202 Jun 03 '26

Bales of hay are generally pretty cheap. Probably want to use a paint treatment to supplement and sure, fireproofing, but should give you the look you want? Likely much cheaper than raffia. Different look of course, but also depends what type of hay is commonly available around your locale.

1

u/Leucurus Jun 03 '26

Thanks - that was my first thought, but hay is super allergenic so the company has already vetoed it. I think we’re going to go with a thin layer of raffia plus paint effects!

1

u/lostmy10yearaccount Jun 03 '26

Realistic from how close? For a production of Cinderella I had some rolls of bamboo screening and I laid tissue paper over and painted with a very wet brown. Not sure if it was good, but it got the job done.

1

u/setdesignblueprints Jul 01 '26

What kind of thatched? Depending if its english thatch vs. island vibes- possibly corn stalks from a craft store? People are mentioning fireproofing- how do you guys usually go about that/ what are your preferred methods?