Tropical paradise and vacation! That’s the first thing that comes to our minds when we are building tiki huts in hotels, restaurants, and front beach resorts. We always keep in mind the great experiences your upcoming guest will have in your vocational place. So, to help you craft the perfect getaway, we created our selective list of tiki thatch styles.
5 Tiki Thatch Styles for Crafting the Perfect Tropical Getaway for Your Guests
There are 5 tiki thatch styles that can help you, as a resort, hotel, restaurant owner/manager, create the perfect tropical getaway for your guests. You can choose for your tiki roof: palm leaf thatch, Tahitian thatch, synthetic palm thatch, African cape reed thatch, or Mexican palm thatch.
Each thatch material has its own benefits. Also, each thatch style has its ideal use depending on the tiki hut designs.
So, take some time to relax, and let’s get into the details of the exciting suggestions we have for you.
Palm Leaf Thatch
Palm leaf thatch is made with 100% eco-friendly and renewable dried palm fronds.
This the most popular option because it offers the unique charm, beauty, and tropical feel of the genuine tiki hut.
You can find palm leaf thatch in different types of thatch products like freshly cut fronds, natural thatch panels, and thatch rolls. This tiki thatch roofing is reliable because the multiple layers of palm leaves locks out rain, moisture, harsh sunlight, and dirt.
Manufacturers of natural thatch products used carefully hand-selected palm leaves. In this way, they can guarantee commercial grade thatch panels that can last longer. Click here to know the lifespan of a palm thatched roof!
To make your tiki hut last, we recommend that you follow our natural thatch maintenance tips.
Natural Palm Leaf Thatch is Ideal for:
- Poolside tiki huts
- Restaurant tiki huts
- Party huts
- Tiki bars
- Chickee huts
- Tiki Umbrellas
Tahitian Thatch
Tahitian thatch is also known as Fiji thatch. This is one of the most wildly exotic types of thatch. It’s place of origin is the Isle of Tahiti, located in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean.
Tahitian thatch is woven from dried palm leaves and fixed with nylon strings for maximum sturdiness.
The life expectancy of this thatch option is between 10 to 12 years.
But the reason why many people prefers this thatch option is because it creates a peaceful and layback feel.
How can you, as a resort/hotel/restaurant owner, benefit from this style thatch?
Well, you can easily create a fabulous tropical and luxurious atmosphere for your vacation locale.
For instance, using this style thatch you can elevate the décor and feel of resorts and themed parks.
You can build poolside cabanas, thatched bar tops, waterpark features, and beachfront resort features.
Synthetic Palm Thatch
In short, synthetic palm thatch will last longer than its natural thatch counterparts. Also, synthetic palm thatch has the good fame of being resistant to flames.
When it comes to natural materials, you have to apply a good fire retardant; otherwise, the whole tiki can light up fast like a match.
But there is a trade-off of using synthetic materials! Yes, as all things in life, you have to give up on something to gain another.
The trade-off to using synthetic thatching materials is that they don’t look as great as natural materials.
But still, we recommend it as an awesome tiki thatch roofing option.
The good thing is that you won’t have to deal with pesky pests. To give you an idea of the weaknesses of natural thatch materials, you should control birds, rodents, caterpillars, and even mold.
For that reason, we recommend to consider the pros and cons of each material. There is no perfect solution, but some thatching materials are ideal for your taste and business needs.
African Cape Reed Thatch
This is the perfect style thatch for those business owners who like to have a roof with uniform appearance. When comparing African reed thatch to the final appearance of the palm thatch, the latter might look messy.
But African thatch looks neat, and some people like appearance.
Reed is a sturdy material, and it’s able to withstand various climate conditions. So, it works perfect in hot and cold weather.
In both cases, this versatile natural thatch has shown great insulation qualities. Thus, you’ll create a thatched roof that looks nice and is the perfect shelter for your guests from the sun and other elements.
As with all natural thatch products, you need to apply a fire retardant. If you have a natural tiki hut, we recommend using flame retardant products sold by DRI-ONE®. This company sells a multi-purpose flame retardant spray that works perfect to protect fabric, wood, and plant based products like palm thatch roof.
Mexican Palm Thatch
This eco-friendly tiki thatch roofing material is made with the fronds of Mexican palm trees.
Thatchers install the palm strands in an uneven way around the roofline. This gives Mexican palm capes look more natural and less man-made.
Two of the drawbacks of Mexican rain cape is that it last 18 months maximum. So, you have to change it often. Other thing is that rain capes aren’t water tight. In other words, you need to have a watertight roof. Then, you can add the Mexican rain capes, so that your outdoor features looks incredible. If you like the shape, style, and feel of the this thatch product, but you don’t like the idea of having to change it after a year and a half, you can opt to buy and install the synthetic version. It last longer, and you don’t have to worry about mildew, bugs, mold, no rot, no maintenance.
It’s Vacation Time. Have Things Ready so Your Guests Always Come Back!
As a vocational locale, you need to guarantee that your guests choose you as their favorite place to unwind.
We know that to create unforgettable experiences for your guests is a challenging endeavor. Your food, your service, the price, and atmosphere of the locale play an important role in giving your guests the desired break.
Here is where the tiki huts come into play. A tiki hut creates a relaxing, refreshing, and calming feel. When people see a tiki hut, their can feel that your vacation vibes trigger.
So, as the owner or manager of your vocational locale, you need to create the perfect atmosphere and acomodations. In this way, your guest will enjoy happily.
After reading about the appearance, durability, pros, and cons of the different tiki thatch styles, we know you’ve chosen your favorite.
Call Sunshine to install your thatch roof so that it looks fancy, it last long, and resistant to flame.