If you've ever visited a third world country, you know what poverty looks like. One of the iconic images of third world poverty that we see time and time again is a small collection of huts covered by thatch roofs. While it might look charming, the reality of living beneath a thatch roof is anything but. As you can tell just by looking at them, thatch roofs leak terribly. During heavy rain, thatch roofs can even become waterlogged and collapse. Thatch roofs attract insects and other critters that become a major annoyance to residents. Those who are lucky are able to upgrade from a thatch roof to a corrugated tin roof. Tin roofs don't leak and they don't attract insects and critters. Tin roofs are also very inconvenient. They trap heat and internal temperatures can be so unbearable during hotter months that people are begging for a leaky, thatch roof. When it does rain, the sound of water falling on a corrugated tin roof can be deafening. Fortunately, thanks to the work of David Saiia, a professor of strategic management and sustainability may have come up with the perfect solution. Plastic thatch David Saiia's specialization is in developing solutions that will help people get out of poverty but without compromising the environment. On one of his frequent trips to Ecuador with university students, he challenged them to find a use for the plastic bottles that littered the area. It was then that the idea of plastic thatch was born. Plastic thatch is made by removing the tops and bottoms of plastic bottles, flattening the bottles and cutting them into thin strips. The strips are then connected to each other using a ultrasonic sealing machine. Advantages to plastic thatch roofing Plastic thatch combines the best features of thatch roofing and tin roofing. Plastic thatch ventilates well like thatch roofing and is waterproof like tin roofs. Plastic thatch roofs muffle sound but allow light to filter through. In addition to the primary benefits of plastic thatch roofing, the new roofing material helps the environment by putting discarded soda bottles to good use. It also provides many poverty stricken with livelihood as the creation of plastic thatch roofing is labor intensive. As an added bonus, plastic thatch roofs proved to be a great foundation for a naturally occurring green roofs as dust and dirt gradually accumulated until there was enough soil to support plant life. The added layer of soil and plant life adds to the lifespan of plastic thatch roofs and has further benefits for the environment. It's safe to say that there are plenty of materials lying around to make more than enough plastic thatch roofs. Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com Source: mashable.com/2014/06/12/soda-bottles-high-tech-roofing/ :p
