Synthetic thatch is man-made thatch: panels or tiles moulded from plastic to look like grass or reed. It is light, it does not rot, birds cannot pull it apart for nests, and it needs little maintenance, which is why it is popular at resorts, beach bars, restaurants and coastal homes. It is fitted very differently from grass and it costs differently too. Tell us about your roof, and we pass your request to independent synthetic thatch suppliers and installers who quote you directly.
How it is fitted
Synthetic thatch is usually screwed or clipped onto battens over a sheeted or boarded roof. The sheeting or boards keep the water out, and the panels give the look. That means the roof frame can be built like a normal roof, and it can often sit at a lower pitch than grass thatch, which needs a steep roof to shed rain. Ask the supplier for the minimum pitch and batten spacing for their product. Building a roof for synthetic thatch from the start is simpler than converting an old grass thatch roof, which usually needs the frame checked and sheeting added.
Look, colour and the coast
Products differ a lot. Some look convincing from a few metres away, others look plastic up close. Ask to see a real roof, not only a sample in the hand, and ask how the colour holds up in strong sun. At the coast, where moss and humidity are hard on grass, synthetic thatch keeps a cleaner look and does not hold water. For a pool bar or thatch umbrella, it can save the regular re-thatching that grass needs. Some panels come in a grass look and others in a finer reed look, so ask which suits the buildings around yours, and check estate guidelines before you order, because some estates have views on roof coverings.
Fire rating and wind
Some synthetic thatch products are tested and rated for fire, and some are not. Ask for the fire rating, the test it is based on and a certificate, and give a copy to your insurer. Do not assume plastic thatch is safer than grass. In windy places, ask how the panels are fixed and what wind the fixing is designed for. The usual rules on lightning protection and plans still apply: check with the municipality and your insurer.
Cost and lifespan claims
Synthetic thatch can cost more per square metre than grass in many quotes, but there is less to spend later on combing, treating and re-thatching. Compare the full picture: the panels, the battens, the sheeting underneath, the ridge and fitting. Suppliers often make long lifespan claims. Ask for the warranty in writing, what it covers (fading, cracking, wind damage) and who stands behind it if the supplier closes.
What to put in your request
- The roof size, shape and pitch
- New roof, or replacing grass thatch
- Whether sheeting or boards are already on
- Any fire rating your insurer or estate needs
- Grass or reed look, and colour preference
Synthetic Thatch for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: a pool lapa or coastal home roof that keeps the thatch look with less upkeep
- Estate homes and HOAs: a thatch look where estate rules allow it and insurers prefer a rated product
- Game lodges and bush camps: outbuildings and walkways where regular re-thatching is hard to manage
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: a breakfast patio or pool bar roof that stays neat between seasons
- Farms and smallholdings: a farm stall or wedding barn roof with the thatch look and less maintenance
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: beach bar and terrace roofs that face salt air and heavy use every day
- Resorts and holiday parks: rows of umbrellas, gazebos and unit roofs in humid coastal air
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a wedding or function roof that needs a fire rated covering
- Builders, architects and developers: a thatch look on a conventional roof frame at a lower pitch than grass
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply or install synthetic thatch?
Can synthetic thatch go over my old grass roof?
Is synthetic thatch fireproof?
Does synthetic thatch need any maintenance?
Synthetic Thatch 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