Thatch roof vs Harvey Tile & Insurance

schuits

schuits

Expert Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
2,327
Reaction score
1,023
Location
East Rand
We recently converted our thatch roof to one with metal tiles. BUT we kept the thatch layer under the new tiles.
Apparently some insurers consider this still to be a thatch roof and others not.

I asked my insurer, Santam, what the consequences were, but all they did was send me back a revised policy, for a slightly lower amount, but still marked as a thatch house.

Does anyone have experience with this?
 
Sounds like it’s still a thatch house to me.

Any reason for not removing thatch completely, just curious.
 
epah said:
Sounds like it’s still a thatch house to me.

Any reason for not removing thatch completely, just curious.
Click to expand...
we are about to do the same. It is nice to sit in my lapa to look up and see the gum poles and grass. Nice ambiance
 
Grubscrew said:
we are about to do the same. It is nice to sit in my lapa to look up and see the gum poles and grass. Nice ambiance
Click to expand...
Oh so it helps because you don’t need to restructure the whole roof and then also have to install a ceiling?

Now next question, why put tiles over the thatch it the first place, is it to minimise chances of fire, minimise thatch maintenance or for curb appeal?
 
schuits said:
We recently converted our thatch roof to one with metal tiles. BUT we kept the thatch layer under the new tiles.
Apparently some insurers consider this still to be a thatch roof and others not.

I asked my insurer, Santam, what the consequences were, but all they did was send me back a revised policy, for a slightly lower amount, but still marked as a thatch house.

Does anyone have experience with this?
Click to expand...
We did the same, but we had them remove ALL the thatch.
The only problem we're having now is a lot of dust in our Lapa.
So now we're looking at adding some other kind of internal insulation or sealing.

Our insurance approved the change and adjusted our premiums.
 
epah said:
Oh so it helps because you don’t need to restructure the whole roof and then also have to install a ceiling?

Now next question, why put tiles over the thatch it the first place, is it to minimise chances of fire, minimise thatch maintenance or for curb appeal?
Click to expand...
It's mainly to minimise thatch maintenance.
 
epah said:
Oh so it helps because you don’t need to restructure the whole roof and then also have to install a ceiling?

Now next question, why put tiles over the thatch it the first place, is it to minimise chances of fire, minimise thatch maintenance or for curb appeal?
Click to expand...
jip, most of those reasons and easier to get a lapa approved with Harvey tile as compared to grass thatch, don't need to appoint a fire engineer.
 
epah said:
Sounds like it’s still a thatch house to me.

Any reason for not removing thatch completely, just curious.
Click to expand...
We had 3 options. Remove everything, add insulation and then tiles. Remove everything except the inner layer of cape reed thatch for looks, and add insulation. Leave the thatch and just put the tiles over it. Was it the best option? Time will tell, but we do like the look and smell of thatch inside. We did it because it was time to redo the top thatch layer entirely which is expensive, plus the yearly maintenance and the worry of fires from outside setting the house alight. Oh and it always leaks somewhere. As a bonus it's easier to install solar panels now.
 
Hi, my property has Harvey tiles over thatch and I’m struggling to find an insurer that will insure the house - does anyone have any recommendations please?
 
schuits said:
We recently converted our thatch roof to one with metal tiles. BUT we kept the thatch layer under the new tiles.
Apparently some insurers consider this still to be a thatch roof and others not.

I asked my insurer, Santam, what the consequences were, but all they did was send me back a revised policy, for a slightly lower amount, but still marked as a thatch house.

Does anyone have experience with this?
Click to expand...
I have the same problem but my question is that a "normal" house has flammable timber under the tiles or metal. In addition it's apparently not legal to place any solar panels on the Harvey roof metal. I can't see the logic
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X