Mostert’s Mill’s reality and restoration - April 2021 vs. September 2022. On April 18th, 2021, a devastating runaway fire originating on the slopes of Devil’s Peak ravaged Mostert’s Mill, a cherished 200-year-old windmill in Cape Town. Following the tragedy, John...

Investing in a thatched roof home can be an exciting prospect, offering a unique blend of charm and cultural richness. Similar to other roofing styles, thatched roofs have their own set of considerations that potential buyers need to know of, to guarantee a smooth and...

A representative from JNA Group attended the ITS General Meeting Conference in the Netherlands this year. The common objective of preserving world heritage through thatching is shared between many different countries. Johan Oosthuizen found the experience thrilling,...

Preserving History: The Significance of Cape Dutch Gabled Houses Cape Dutch gabled houses are architectural treasures that grace the landscape of South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape. These unique buildings are steeped in history and are a testament to the...

Nestled among the enchanting eucalyptus trees and vineyards of Journey’s End, a remarkable architectural gem stands tall, offering a unique and luxurious retreat for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Designed by the renowned Pedri Lotz from Lotz Smith...

HOLD ON TO YOUR HERITAGE – THATCH RESTORATION OF CLAREMONT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (1877) There’s a reason why heritage sites are kept safe from the changes of modern society. They provide links to the past – the surrounding area, the people and the traditions. We need...

THATCHING IN THE KALAHARI – THE RIDE TO SUCCESS ON ROOIDUIN The Kalahari is a magical place with numerous majestic features, truly a landscape of inspiration and awe. Thatching in the Kalahari, however, is no easy task, but it’s a task that JNA Thatchers recently...

WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY – ROOF WINDOWS IN THATCH ROOFS Over the past couple of years, interior trends focused a lot on the optimal use of space. In a previous blog, we explored the converting of attics to beautiful lofts or bedrooms, which is often a possibility with a...

OPEN MINDED ABOUT CLOSED CONSTRUCTION THATCHING You can be the biggest supporter and lover of thatched roofs (and believe us, we are!), but there are certain challenges that one simply cannot ignore when it comes to working with natural materials such as thatch. For...

JNA THATCHERS IN JAPAN – THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL THATCHING SOCIETY CONFERENCE One day there was a Dutchman, a German, a Dane, a Swede and a South African sharing a few beers… As much as this might sound like the start of a silly South African joke; it is not. On the...

When paging through the April issue of the Tuis / Home magazine, your eye will catch an article about a beautiful loft apartment in Rosebank, Cape Town. What used to be an old dusty and dark attic of a 1785 Cape Dutch house, is now a magnificent space and has become one of our favourite attic conversions.

THATCH ROOF MAINTENANCE – PREPARE AND PREVENT, DON’T REPAIR AND REPENT! Winter is around the corner and therefore the timing is perfect to look at the maintenance required for thatched roofs. Within the thatching industry, we are fighting the maintenance battle...

WEST COAST THATCH WONDER: THE SILVER BAY VILLA It is one of the most published images of modern thatch and definitely a project that JNA THATCHERS was extremely proud to be a part of. But where did well known architect, Greg Truen’s (Director at SAOTA), inspiration...

JNA THATCHERS: PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE LITTLE GIG FESTIVAL “If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.” – John Cleese The Little Gig Festival started as a bunch of friends in the industry coming together once a year. Today it is a 24-hour showcase of...

JNA THATCHERS COMPLETES KLEINPLASIE RESTORATION JNA THATCHERS was recently approached to rethatch the representation of an old farmer’s house at the Worcester Open Air Museum, Kleinplasie. Originally the project seemed straight forward – it would require a thatching...

WHEN JNA PROJECTS, ROOFING AND THATCHERS COMBINE…MAGIC HAPPENS The JNA Group recently completed another very exciting project in Smitswinkel Bay. As is often the case with such unique projects, we had to pull resources from all three subsidiary companies to make this...

THE JNA GROUP’S GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS IN CAPE TOWN DECEMBER: RELAX. RELOAD. RECHARGE Finally, the long-awaited December holiday is here: time to unwind and rest. Should you be lucky enough to spend the festive season in the beautiful Cape Town and are in need of...

THE TRUTH ABOUT THATCH & THATCH MAINTENANCE -SHEDDING THE LIGHT ON PREMATURE THATCH MAINTENANCE As consumers, we are often vulnerable and exposed to gimmicks and bent-truths sold to us on a silver platter by service providers. As a thatching company; it drives us...

LUCAS QUALITY THATCHERS HAS A NEW NAME CHANGE IS HERE We believe, lines can tell a story… For years, the same directors have been managing the individual companies that consists of Lucas Quality Thatchers, JNA Projects and JNA Roofing.For years, these companies have...