So you’re buying a beautiful weekend home in the Magaliesberg with a thatched roof – or you’re planning to build a lapa over your outside entertainment area at home. Have you considered what that entails, from both maintenance and insurance perspectives?

For example, did you know that a lightning strike (a perennial risk on the Highveld) is much more likely to cause a power surge and damage your electronic equipment and appliances than start a fire? Or that a lightning mast – one of those ubiquitous masts one sees next to thatched buildings – could be more of a liability than an asset if it’s not properly maintained? Or that fire retardants don’t actually stop fires? Or that different types of fire extinguishers are required for thatch? Or even that you will need to completely replace that thatched roof periodically?

A thatched roof (as opposed to tile, slate, concrete, asbestos, metal or zinc roofs, which are deemed to be standard) is regarded as a non-standard construction by insurers, and this will be taken into account when determining your home insurance cover and premium.

But as long as you do all the right things – such as having the roof professionally installed, having it regularly maintained, obeying the law and taking steps to reduce fire risk – your insurer will provide you with good cover, and not quibble should the worst happen and you need to submit a claim.

To enjoy your thatched roof (and, of course, great insurance cover on it) for many years, you should …

… Install it properly

You will not be covered if your roof is of defective design, specification, construction, workmanship or material. All thatched roofs need to be installed and maintained by professionals.

The top layer of thatch rots over time, and needs to be brushed every five to eight years. When a thatched roof is originally built, its thickness should always allow for this maintenance. But when the roof reaches a minimum thickness, it is time to re-thatch.

The location and size of a lapa is also relevant to insurance cover; for example, most insurers want to know whether or not it is within five metres of the main residence, and the square metreage relative to the main residence’s roof (there may be additional premium required if it is more than 10-15% of the main residence’s). These factors will have a bearing on your cover, so consider the location and size of that lapa you so desire.