Most South African grass roofs are laid with thatch grass for sale by the bundle from farmers and suppliers who cut it in the dry winter months, after it has seeded and dried on the stem. Much of it comes from the grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free State and the Eastern Cape, and it travels by truck to thatchers and building sites all over the country. Quality varies more than price suggests. Tell us how much you need and where, and we pass your request to independent grass suppliers who quote you directly.
What good thatching grass looks like
Most thatching grass is one of several Hyparrhenia species, with common thatching grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) the best known. Good grass is long, straight, clean and dry. Pull a few stems from a bundle and look for:
- stems of an even length, without many short or broken pieces
- clean butts, free of soil, roots and leaves
- few seed heads and little loose rubbish inside the bundle
- no damp, musty smell and no grey or black patches
Short, bent or leafy grass is harder to lay tight and wears faster on the roof.
Harvest season and availability
Grass is cut by hand in winter, so new stock usually reaches the market from mid winter into spring. That is also when many people want to re-thatch before the summer rain, so good grass can be scarce by late spring. A wet season, veld fires or a poor growing year can cut supply. If your roof is planned for the coming summer, ask about stock early and ask whether the supplier can hold your bundles once you pay a deposit.
How many bundles you need
Bundle sizes are not standard. One supplier's bundle can be noticeably thicker or longer than another's, so a count from one yard does not carry over to the next. Work out the sloped roof area in square metres (the quote form does this for you), then ask the supplier how many of their bundles a square metre takes at the thickness your thatcher will lay. Order a little extra for the ridge, the eaves and waste, and confirm the number with your thatcher before you pay.
Delivery and storage on site
Larger orders usually come on a flatbed truck from the growing areas, and delivery can be a large part of the cost far from KwaZulu-Natal or the Free State, so ask for it as a separate line. Small DIY orders can sometimes go on a bakkie. Once delivered, keep bundles dry, under cover and off the ground on pallets or poles, with air moving around them. Wet grass stored in a tight heap can rot before it reaches the roof. Keep the stack well away from braais, fires and anyone smoking, because dry grass catches easily.
What to put in your request
- The number of bundles or the roof area in m²
- What it is for: new roof, re-thatch or repair
- The delivery address and access for a truck
- When you need it and whether you can store it dry
- Whether your thatcher has a preferred grass type
Thatch Grass for Sale for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: grass for a garden lapa, a top-up over a thin patch or a full re-thatch of the house
- Estate homes and HOAs: grass that matches the colour and finish of neighbouring roofs under the estate guidelines
- Game lodges and bush camps: truckloads of grass booked ahead for re-thatching chalets and bomas before the rains
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: grass for re-thatching a cottage or patching a worn guest room roof between bookings
- Farms and smallholdings: grass for rondavels, farm lapas and workers' houses, often from nearby veld or a local cutter
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: grass for an outdoor seating roof or umbrellas over tables that need regular renewal
- Resorts and holiday parks: bulk grass for rows of thatched units and gazebos maintained one block at a time
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: grass for a thatched wedding lapa or chapel roof timed around the busy season
- Builders, architects and developers: grass ordered to the thatcher's count and delivered when the pole and lath frame is ready
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell the thatch grass yourselves?
Can I buy a small amount for a repair or an umbrella?
Is old stock from last season still usable?
Should I buy the grass myself or let the thatcher supply it?
Thatch Grass for Sale 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