Thatch lapas are part of how South Africans live outdoors: an open sided thatched roof on poles, for a braai, a pool, a bar or simply shade on a hot afternoon. They range from a small round lapa in a townhouse garden to a large lodge boma. This page covers shapes and sizes, poles and footings, floors, built braais and chimneys, lighting, blinds, plans and lightning. One request goes to lapa builders and thatchers who work in your area, and they quote you directly.
Round or rectangular, and how big
A round lapa has a conical roof on a ring of poles rising to a single point, and suits gardens and pool areas. A rectangular lapa has a ridge along the top and suits long tables, bars and lapas built onto the house. Sizes run from a small 3 to 4 m lapa for a few chairs up to large bomas for lodges and venues.
Size it for the furniture plus room to walk around it, and remember the roof overhang is wider than the floor. For layout ideas, see lapa designs.
Poles, footings and the roof
The roof sits on treated gum poles set in concrete footings or on steel shoes, with a pole and lath frame above. Ask about the treatment class for poles near or in the ground. The pitch should usually be at least 45 degrees, and the thatch is laid, sewn and dressed like any thatch roof, finished with a cement, metal or grass ridge.
The wind gets under an open lapa, so the frame must be well braced and the thatch sewn tight.
Floors, braais, lights and blinds
- Floors: brick paving, concrete, slate or tiles, laid a little higher than the garden so water runs away.
- Built braai: keep the fire well away from the thatch, with a chimney that ends well above the roof and a spark arrestor on top.
- Lighting: no exposed cables in the thatch, fittings kept clear of the grass, and a registered electrician with a certificate of compliance.
- Blinds: canvas or clear roll-down blinds keep out wind and rain in winter.
- Extras: half walls, a bar counter, a sink and plug points.
Plans, fire distances and lightning
Many municipalities and estates want plans for a lapa, and the fire safety distances in the building regulations apply to thatch, so a lapa can't simply go up against the boundary wall or right beside the house. Check with the municipality and your HOA before you build. On the Highveld, ask about a free-standing lightning mast, and ask your insurer what they want for a thatched lapa. A fire retardant is a common extra.
Once it is built, give the lapa the same care as a house roof: a check before the rains, trees cut back, leaves cleared and the ridge kept sound. An open lapa dries quickly, which helps, but wind and birds work loose grass at the eaves.
What to put in your request
- Round or rectangular, and the size
- Where it stands and the distance to walls
- Floor wanted: paving, concrete or slate
- Built braai, bar, lights or blinds
- Estate rules and plans
Thatch Lapas for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: a round lapa by the pool or a rectangular one against the house for braais
- Estate homes and HOAs: a lapa built to the estate's size and fire distance rules, approved by the HOA
- Game lodges and bush camps: a large boma or dining lapa for guests, with a fire pit kept well clear of the roof
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: a shared lapa with a braai for guests, often with roll-down blinds for winter
- Farms and smallholdings: a farm lapa for family gatherings and functions, built on poles from a nearby yard
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: an outdoor seating lapa or beer garden with lights and blinds
- Resorts and holiday parks: braai lapas beside the units and a large lapa for functions
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a big thatched lapa for weddings and functions with a bar and paved floor
- Builders, architects and developers: a lapa subcontractor to build and thatch beside a new house
Frequently asked questions
Do you build lapas?
Do I need plans for a lapa?
How close can a braai be to the thatch?
Can an old lapa be re-thatched?
Thatch Lapas 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