Thatch tiles are concrete or fibre cement roof tiles shaped and textured to look like thatch, used on new houses that want the look and on old thatch roofs being replaced. Some owners switch because of insurance, fire risk or the cost of keeping grass in good order. Taking thatch off a house is a big job, because the frame under it was built for thatch, not tiles. Tell us about your roof, and we pass your request to independent roof tile suppliers and roofers who quote you directly.
What thatch-look roof tiles are
Thatch-look roof tiles are made in concrete or fibre cement with a surface that copies the texture of grass, and some are shaped to curve over the rounded eaves and hips of a thatch roof. From the street they keep much of the shape. Up close they read as tiles. Ask suppliers for photos of finished roofs of a similar age to yours, and look at one in person if you can. Ordinary roof tiles are also an option if you do not need the thatch look. Ask about the ridge, hip and eave pieces that go with the tile, because those details decide whether the finished roof looks neat, and ask how the tiles are fixed in windy areas.
Replacing a thatch roof with tiles
A tiled roof loads the frame differently from thatch, and tiles need battens at set spacing, an underlay and proper waterproofing, none of which a thatch roof has. Before anyone quotes, have the roof frame checked by an engineer or an experienced roofer. Gum pole rafters may need strengthening or replacing. The old thatch must be stripped and taken away. Gutters, flashings and fascias are often new as well. Changing the roof covering often needs new plans, so check with the municipality.
Cost against re-thatching
Compare the full cost of tiles (stripping, frame work, underlay, battens, tiles, ridge and gutters) with the cost of re-thatching and the yearly upkeep of thatch over the years you expect to stay. A tiled roof usually needs less care than thatch, and some insurers treat it differently, so ask your insurer before you decide. If fire is the main worry, a fire protection upgrade may cost less than a new roof.
Estates and the look of the street
Many estates have architectural guidelines that say which roof coverings are allowed, and some were designed around thatch. Ask the HOA or body corporate before you get quotes. If tiles are not allowed, synthetic thatch may be another way to keep the look with less upkeep. Get the approval in writing before work starts. If neighbours share a wall or a roof line, as in some cluster homes, talk to them early too, because the join between a tiled roof and a thatched one needs careful flashing and a clear plan for who looks after it.
What to put in your request
- The roof area and shape, and its pitch
- Whether old thatch must be stripped first
- The condition and age of the roof frame
- Thatch-look tiles or ordinary roof tiles
- Estate guidelines or plans already approved
Thatch Roof Tiles for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: re-roofing a worn thatch house in tiles while keeping its rounded shape
- Estate homes and HOAs: roof changes that need HOA approval and must keep the street's thatch look
- Game lodges and bush camps: tiling staff housing or workshops while keeping thatch on guest chalets
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: a lower upkeep roof on a cottage that keeps its familiar outline
- Farms and smallholdings: replacing thatch on an old farmhouse when re-thatching no longer makes sense
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: a tiled roof over a kitchen or service area beside thatched seating
- Resorts and holiday parks: replacing thatch on units one block at a time to cut yearly upkeep
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a tiled hall roof where fire rules or the insurer ask for a change
- Builders, architects and developers: a thatch-look roof on a new design, priced with battens and underlay
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply or fit roof tiles yourselves?
Can tiles go straight onto my existing thatch frame?
Will my insurance change if I replace thatch with tiles?
Do I need plans to change from thatch to tiles?
Thatch Roof Tiles 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