Thatch roof repair is usually a matter of finding where the water gets in and fixing that spot before it spreads. Most leaks start at the ridge, in the valleys, around chimneys and dormers, or where the thatch has worn thin on the weather side. Birds pull out grass, hail and wind loosen courses, and a cracked cement ridge lets rain run straight into the roof. A good thatcher can patch, re-dress and re-ridge without stripping the whole roof. Send one request and we pass it to independent thatchers near you, who quote you directly.
What usually goes wrong
- The ridge: a cement ridge cracks with age and movement, and water runs under it. Re-doing the ridge is one of the most common repairs.
- Valleys and joins: leaves collect and the thatch stays wet, so it rots faster than the rest of the roof.
- Worn patches: the weather side and shaded areas wear thin until the binding wire shows.
- Holes: birds and rodents pull grass out (see thatch pest control).
- Storm damage: hail and strong wind can loosen or strip courses, especially on an older roof.
How a repair is done
The thatcher pulls out the worn or rotten grass, checks the laths and poles underneath, and sews new bundles into the gap so the new courses tuck under the old ones. The patch is beaten into place with a leggett so it lies flush. Sagging areas are re-dressed and tightened. A cracked ridge is broken off and re-done. New grass is lighter in colour at first and weathers to match over time. If the timber is soft or the thatch is worn through in many places, a repair may only buy time, and re-thatching is worth pricing too.
What drives the price
Thatchers often price repairs by the area re-laid, plus the ridge, scaffolding or ladders, and travel. A small patch can cost more per square metre than a big job because the crew still has to come out. Access matters: a double storey roof or a lapa over a pool takes more setting up. Rotten laths or poles add cost. Ask for a quote that lists the patch areas, the ridge work and the materials separately, and ask whether the repair comes with a treatment or a maintenance visit later.
After a fire or a big storm
After a small fire, the burnt thatch and any charred timber must come out, and the roof should be checked properly before anyone relies on it. Your insurer may want an assessment and a report first, so ask your insurer before work starts. After hail, many thatchers look at the whole roof, not only the obvious holes. It is a good time to ask about fire protection and a lightning mast if the roof has neither.
What to put in your request
- Photos of the leak, the ridge and the worn areas
- The size and type of roof (house, lapa, rondavel)
- Roughly when it was last thatched or repaired
- Storm, hail, bird or fire damage, if any
- Access: single or double storey, over a pool
Thatch Roof Repairs for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: a leak at the ridge or a worn valley on the family home patched before the summer rain
- Estate homes and HOAs: repairs to thatch homes done to the estate's guidelines and booked through the HOA office
- Game lodges and bush camps: chalet roofs patched one at a time between bookings, before the rainy season
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: a thin spot over a guest room fixed quickly so the room can stay booked
- Farms and smallholdings: an older farm lapa or rondavel re-ridged and patched after a hail storm
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: a worn patch over the dining area repaired early in the week, between busy weekends
- Resorts and holiday parks: storm damage on several thatched units patched and re-ridged in one visit
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a wedding lapa roof patched and checked before the busy season
- Builders, architects and developers: a repair quote for a client buying an older thatched house
Frequently asked questions
Do you repair thatch roofs yourselves?
Why does my thatch leak only at the ridge?
Will the new patch look different?
When is a repair no longer worth it?
Thatch Roof Repairs 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