What the Future of Thatch Roof Insurance means for your Home

thatch roof insurance

Thatch roof homesteads and sun-baked thatch lapas are iconically African architecture, practically perfect for multiple purposes at bush lodges and in backyards. There’s a special ambience, fragranced by Mother Nature, that makes thatch roofs so desirable. However, few people fully understand the high standards set by insurers, nor are they aware of the unpredictable future of thatch roof insurance in South Africa.

Thatch roofs and lapas are governed by the same laws that govern conventional buildings, which means local councils have the mandate to assess the integrity of thatch structures. Building regulations are always intended to ensure the safety of a building, and when it comes to thatch roofs, these regulations ensure the safety of the entire neighbourhood.

Let’s begin by exploring the risks. We must understand how property owners can prevent the worst from happening, and also ensure that their structure meets the minimum thatch roof insurance requirements.

Risks Associated with Thatch Roofs in South Africa

Adding an authentic, earthy touch to any property, thatch roof buildings do come with a few complications and risks that owners and prospective owners should become familiar with.

Fire

Obviously, the most notable risk associated with thatch is fire. Thatched roofs are highly combustible, especially in hot, dry climates often found in South Africa, and climates prone to electrical storms.

Water Damage

Although a professionally built and properly maintained thatch roof should not pose much risk for water damage, even the loveliest thatch is more susceptible to developing leaks than most traditional building structures – leaks that could result in costly water damage to interiors. What’s more, in severely wet conditions, the thatch itself can become waterlogged, making it heavy and unstable and increasing the risk of collapsing.

Pests and Rodents

No one likes to think of the creepy crawlies that love to live in thatch roofs, but given the time to move in, you’ll find them there! Apart from the health risk to home occupants, rodents and pests can cause significant damage to the roof structure, insulation, electrical wiring and general interior of the property.

Keeping Your Thatch Roof Insurance Provider Happy

Insurance companies classify thatch roofs as non-standard structures and regard them as a “special risk”… which often means – you guessed it – loaded premiums. In fact, the thatch roof insurance landscape is evolving fast, unfortunately not in the favour of these unique roof structures – we can expect some drastic changes in years to come.

However, if you’re the proud owner of a thatched home or entertainment area, there are some actions you can take to ensure that your property is safe, and adequately protected by thatch roof insurance.

1. Ensure it’s been properly installed

Because of the heightened risks, thatch roofs must be professionally installed. As with any construction, if your roof is found to be of defective design, poor workmanship or materials, or built outside of approved specifications, insurance companies are unlikely to provide your property with cover. In a best-case scenario, they may offer limited coverage with a list of exclusions and/or heavily loaded premiums.

Other factors that impact your thatch roof insurance are the thatch structure’s proximity to your main residence and its relative square metreage to the main residence’s roof.

2. Maintain your thatch roof regularly

Thatch roof property owners should remember to professionally brush and maintain the thatch every 5 to 8 years. Depending on the climate and conditions of the thatch, the entire roof will need re-thatching every 15-25 years, too.

Maintain your thatch and secure your thatch roof insurance company’s confidence by taking the following proactive maintenance measures:

  • Remove trees that may keep thatch from drying out regularly, to prevent fungus, mould or rot from setting in.
  • Use a rake to remove leaves, moss and organic waste from the roof.
  • Ensure that your thatch is built with drainage in mind so that water does not gather and stagnate anywhere.

3. Protect against lightning and fire

Of course, any thatch roof insurance provider’s greatest concern is the risk of fire. There are various regulations and guidelines that help prevent thatch fires, which you will need to discuss with your insurance company:

  • National Building Regulations require all chimneys to be isolated, and this is of utmost importance when it comes to thatch roofs. Factors considered are height and materials used, as well as non-combustible flashing installed around the chimney.
  • Although optional, fire retardants are an effective method of slowing the build-up of heat. While they don’t necessarily stop a fire, they do hinder how fast it spreads, offering precious time to bring the flames under control. Remember that fire retardants must be re-applied every 3 years.
  • Every kitchen or cooking area (including your favourite lapa braai) should have a 5kg CO2 (Class “B”) fire extinguisher installed.
  • If the building is higher than one storey or has a loft, water extinguishers (Class “A”) should be kept on every floor.
  • Installing hose reels outside of the property is another added measure to control potential fire risks on the roof and surrounding vegetation.
  • Install professional lightning protection – this includes a lightning mast (which must be maintained annually) and a surge protector to safeguard the home’s electrical system from damage.
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Finding Alternatives for Thatched Roofs

As pretty as thatched roofs are, they are deemed higher risk than other structures, and complicated to care for. Due to exceptionally high claims for thatch losses, the Insurance Association of South Africa has recommended that providers phase out thatch roof insurance altogether. For now, certain insurers continue to insure thatch, but the costs, requirements, and exclusions are expected to become increasingly difficult to work around.

Property owners can explore various options to update their thatched roof structure to appease their insurance companies and minimise the risks of thatch altogether.

1. Harvey tiles on top of thatch (not safe!)

Installing Harvey tiles, or similar materials, on top of thatch has become a popular alternative to exposed thatch. This allows owners to continue enjoying the look and feel (and scent) of thatch on the inside of the home while protecting the exterior with tile.

However, the Thatch Association of South Africa suggests that this method is more dangerous than a basic thatch roof because South Africa’s fire department is not qualified or equipped to stop fires from inside a building. Trying to extinguish a fire from the outside using water will simply result in the water running off the Harvey tiles while the interiors continue to burn.

2. Complete replacement of thatch grass

While homeowners may be sad to bid farewell to the authenticity and fragrant charm of their thatch roof, completely replacing the grass has become the inevitable future of these structures, all thanks to thatch roof insurance complications. The solution that we recommend is to keep the gumpole structure, which helps to maintain an attractive countryside ambience.

We place ceiling boards on top of the gum pole structure, which can be coated in any colour or finish desired. A layer of insulation follows, and then roof sheeting provides your new roof’s final layer of protection.

Replacing a thatch roof for a new structure impacts the overall stability of the building. Gumpoles and trusses may need to be reinforced to support a heavier load. That’s why changes to this extent need to be professionally assessed and recommended. What’s more, these must be submitted to the council for approval, which also means you need to comply with the energy-efficiency regulations.

In other words, removing your thatch and slapping on a new roof is not something you can DIY or hire a non-professional for. We invite you to reach out to us if you’d like to explore dodging thatch roof insurance drama, by having your thatch roof replaced.

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