Roofing in Southern Africa

Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini, combines strong thatch traditions with heavy use of corrugated metal and, in cities, concrete and clay tiles. Climates range from the winter-rainfall Western Cape to summer-thunderstorm highveld and dry interiors.

Thatch traditions

• Rondavels - round houses with conical thatched roofs, found in South Africa, Lesotho (mokhoro), Eswatini and Botswana. The cone is built of radial principals and circular purlins without internal posts, and grass thatch is sewn on in bands from the eaves upward.
• Cape Dutch - homesteads of the Western Cape, from the 17th century, with H-shaped plans, steep thatched roofs and ornate plastered gables.

South Africa remains a significant thatching country, with thatch used on lodges, homes and heritage buildings, and it also exports thatching reed to Europe. Fire is the main risk, illustrated by the 1925 fire that destroyed the Groot Constantia manor house near Cape Town.

Corrugated metal

Corrugated iron, widely used since the colonial period, is the most common roof on rural houses, informal settlements and farm buildings, and many rondavels now have metal rather than thatch roofs. Modern versions use galvanised or zinc-aluminium-coated steel, often pre-painted, in corrugated, box-rib and standing seam profiles.

Tiles and concrete

Concrete roof tiles and clay tiles are standard on suburban houses in South Africa, while reinforced concrete flat roofs with membranes are common on commercial and multi-storey buildings.

Standards

South Africa's National Building Regulations and their supporting national standards govern roof structure, fire and energy efficiency, and specific rules apply to thatched roofs because of fire spread between buildings.

Hazards

Hail on the highveld, strong winds in coastal areas and lightning, especially relevant to thatch, are key roofing hazards.