If you are asking how much to replace a thatch roof, the roof is probably past patching: binding wire showing, deep holes, grass worn thin all over, or leaks in many places. Re-thatching means stripping the old thatch, checking and replacing rotten laths and poles, and laying new thatch from the eave up to a new ridge. The price depends on the roof area, the grass, the state of the frame, access and travel. Send one request and we pass it to independent thatchers near you, who quote you directly.
Topping up or a full re-thatch
Some roofs can be topped up: a new layer laid over the old thatch where the old base is still sound and dry. It costs less and is quicker. Where the thatch is rotten, very thin, or full of old repairs, the old layer has to come off. Only a thatcher who has looked closely, ideally from inside the roof space too, can say which yours needs. Ask for both prices if both are possible, and ask what thickness each one gives you. A small worn area may still be a repair.
What the quote should cover
- Stripping the old thatch and taking it away: old thatch is bulky and burns easily, so ask where it goes.
- Checking the frame and replacing rotten laths and gum poles.
- The new grass or Cape reed, the thickness and the number of bundles.
- The ridge: cement, metal cap or grass.
- Scaffolding, travel and accommodation for a crew from far away.
Thatchers often quote per square metre of roof for the thatch and list the rest separately.
Upgrades to do while the roof is open
With the old thatch off, it is the easiest time to fit a fire barrier between the thatch and the roof space, to have a registered electrician tidy the wiring, and to plan a free-standing lightning mast. A fire retardant can go on once the new thatch is laid. Check with the municipality and your estate whether plans or approval are needed for a full re-roof, and ask your insurer what they want to see afterwards.
Timing and weather
Grass is cut in the dry winter months, so supply is best after the harvest, and most owners want the roof closed before the summer rain. In the Western Cape, where it rains in winter, the timing is the other way round. A stripped roof is open to the weather, so ask how the thatcher covers it overnight and if rain comes. How long it takes depends on the size of the roof and the crew: ask for a start date and an estimate in writing. Order the grass early, because good bundles can run short late in the season.
What to put in your request
- Roof size, shape and pitch, or the house plans
- Photos of the worn areas and from inside the roof
- Grass or Cape reed, and the ridge you want
- Whether you want a fire barrier or lightning mast
- When you need the roof closed
Re-thatching for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: a worn family home roof stripped and re-laid in one dry season
- Estate homes and HOAs: a re-thatch done to the estate's guidelines, with HOA approval first
- Game lodges and bush camps: chalets re-thatched in turn in the quiet months so the lodge stays open
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: the oldest guest rooms re-thatched first and the rest planned over years
- Farms and smallholdings: an old farmhouse or workers' rondavels re-thatched with grass from nearby
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: a worn dining area roof stripped and re-laid in the slow season
- Resorts and holiday parks: rows of thatched units re-thatched in phases with a fire barrier added
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a large wedding lapa re-thatched between seasons with a new ridge
- Builders, architects and developers: a re-thatch priced as part of renovating an older thatched house
Frequently asked questions
Do you re-thatch roofs yourselves?
Can I re-thatch only one side of the roof?
Should I replace thatch with tiles instead?
How do I know the thatch is worn through?
Re-thatching by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg