A thatch roof is priced by its area, and the area comes from the size and the pitch. Put both in one request for thatched rondavels in Newcastle and we pass it to rondavel builders and thatchers working in Newcastle and nearby areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
Thatched Rondavels in Newcastle
Building or re-roofing a rondavel in Newcastle? Say how many rondavels, the diameter, whether they are round or 6 or 8 corner, and whether the walls are already up. Builders and thatchers working in Newcastle and KwaZulu-Natal can then quote you directly.
Want to know more first? Our thatched rondavels guide covers the options, what to ask for and what affects the price.
Newcastle notes on roofs & lapas
Most thatch requests in Newcastle are for garden lapas in the established suburbs, a braai lapa at a club or church, or guest cottages and wedding venues on farms around Utrecht, Dannhauser and the Ingogo area. Thatched homes are fewer than in the Midlands, so ask a thatcher for past roofs you can look at. Plans and fire distances still apply: check with the Newcastle municipality before building.
Newcastle: the buildings, the weather and the thatchers
Newcastle is a steel and industrial town, and to be honest there is less thatch here than in the Midlands or on the coast. What there is tends to be garden lapas in suburbs like Aviary Hill, Signal Hill and Hutten Heights, braai lapas at sports clubs, guest farms near Utrecht and in the hills towards Normandien, and holiday spots around Ntshingwayo Dam. The weather is closer to the Highveld than to Durban: hot summers with sharp afternoon thunderstorms, lightning and hail, and cold, dry winters with frost. The surrounding grassland of northern KZN is where some of the province's thatching grass is cut, so material is close. Bigger crews often come from Pietermaritzburg or across the provincial line.
Who asks for thatched rondavels around Newcastle, most often first:
- Homeowners: a guest rondavel or studio beside the house, or a home of linked rondavels
- Farms and smallholdings: rondavels for family, staff housing or farm stays, re-thatched with local grass
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: self-catering rondavels in the garden, each with its own small stoep
Local tips for Newcastle
Asked for most in Newcastle: garden and club lapas, farm guest cottages, hail repairs. Where the thatchers are: A few local thatchers; larger crews from Pietermaritzburg and the Highveld. A useful tip: ask whether hail damage repairs come with photos you can give your insurer.
Around Newcastle the largest group asking is homeowners, which usually means a guest rondavel or studio beside the house, or a home of linked rondavels. Before you agree to anything: ring beam, cone frame and the peak cap. Getting a crew there: grass often from northern KZN farms; crews may travel up the N11 or N3.
Service area: Newcastle and surrounds
Thatchers, suppliers and specialists on our network work in Newcastle and surrounding areas, including Madadeni, Osizweni, Blaauwbosch, Utrecht, Dannhauser, Charlestown. Give your suburb or the farm's nearest town, so travel and delivery can be quoted honestly.