A small set of roof thatching tools does most of the work on a grass or reed roof: a leggett to dress the thatch into place, a long needle to sew it to the laths, binding wire or tarred twine, a sharp knife, and safe ways to reach the roof. Whether you are fixing a lapa yourself or kitting out a new crew, buying the right ones saves time and grass. Tell us what you need, and we pass your request to independent suppliers who quote you directly.
Leggetts and dressing tools
A leggett is a flat wooden paddle with ridges or grooves on its face and a handle set at an angle. The thatcher beats the butt ends of the grass upwards with it so each course sits tight and even. Leggetts come in different sizes and face patterns for grass, reed, eaves and ridges, and many thatchers keep more than one. Hardwood lasts longer. A smaller hand leggett is handy for repairs and umbrellas. Check that the handle is fixed firmly and the face is not split, and ask whether the supplier makes reed and grass versions, because a face cut for grass can be too coarse for fine reed.
Needles, wire and twine
The thatch is sewn to the laths with a long thatching needle that carries the wire or twine through the thatch and around the lath. Needles come in different lengths for the thickness of the thatch. For binding, choose:
- galvanised binding wire, the common choice for most roofs
- stainless steel wire, which costs more and suits damp and coastal roofs
- tarred twine, the traditional choice for some work
Ask your thatcher or the supplier which wire suits your roof and how much a square metre uses.
Cutting, trimming and fixing
A sharp knife or blade cuts binding and trims bundles. Shears or a trimming blade neaten the eaves and the edges around windows and dormers. Pliers, wire cutters and a rake or comb for combing loose grass out of an old roof round out a basic kit. Keep blades sharp: blunt tools pull grass loose rather than cutting it clean. Gloves and eye protection are worth having too, because binding wire is sharp and grass dust gets everywhere when you work old thatch.
Ladders, roof hooks and scaffolding
Thatch roofs are steep, and walking on the thatch damages it. Thatchers work from ladders with roof hooks that hang over the ridge or are fixed to the frame, from planks and from scaffolding along the eaves. Hire scaffolding for bigger jobs rather than buying it, and ask the hire company to deliver, erect and check it. Work at height is dangerous: if you are not used to it, ask a thatcher to quote the repair instead.
What to put in your request
- Which tools you need and how many of each
- Grass or reed, and the thatch thickness
- Galvanised wire, stainless wire or tarred twine
- One repair, or kitting out a crew
- Delivery address, or collection
Thatching Tools and Binding for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: a basic kit to patch a lapa or umbrella and comb out loose grass
- Estate homes and HOAs: tools for a maintenance team that tends many thatched roofs
- Game lodges and bush camps: tools kept on site so staff can patch chalets between thatcher visits
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: a small repair kit for quick fixes after storms
- Farms and smallholdings: tools for re-thatching rondavels and farm lapas with farm labour
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: a kit for patching outdoor umbrellas worn by daily use
- Resorts and holiday parks: tools and roof ladders for an in-house maintenance team
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a repair kit to tidy a wedding lapa before the season
- Builders, architects and developers: a full set of tools and access equipment for a new thatching team
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell thatching tools yourselves?
What tools do I need to patch a small lapa?
Galvanised or stainless binding wire?
Can I hire thatching tools instead of buying them?
Thatching Tools and Binding 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