Strand is a beach town first, so a lot of our work follows the holiday calendar. Flats on Beach Road sit empty for months, then fill up over December, and pests that moved in quietly during the off-season suddenly become everyone's problem.
The local picture in Strand
Fleas are a common call when a flat changes hands or a pet-owning tenant moves out. Bed bugs occasionally arrive with holiday visitors' luggage, so a quick check after a busy season is sensible.
The South-Easter blows hard across False Bay here in summer, pushing sand and debris into every gap under doors and garage roller shutters. Winter rain is lighter than on the Peninsula but the Lourens River mouth and the low-lying ground near it stay damp. Salt air also rusts mesh and vent covers faster than people expect, which opens new entry points.
Along the beachfront you get blocks of holiday and retirement flats, many with shared refuse rooms and long service ducts that let cockroaches travel between units. Further back from the sea the streets are older freestanding homes and townhouse complexes, plus a busy commercial strip with takeaways and small supermarkets. Lock-up-and-go flats are the tricky ones, because nobody notices droppings or a fishmoth problem until the owner arrives for the season.
Tell-tale signs
- Nesting material, feathers and droppings visible at gaps in the fascia, under roof tiles or around the air conditioner.
- Symptoms that ease when you leave the house for a few days and return when you come back.
- A prickling, crawling sensation on the skin, often at night or while sitting near a particular wall or window.
- Birds seen flying in and out of the roof, gutters or eaves during the spring and early summer.
- Tiny moving specks on window sills, bedding, white walls or the bathroom basin, especially near ceilings and light fittings.
Something most people miss
Bird nests also feed carpet beetles and clothes moths, so a house with an old nest in the roof can end up with damaged rugs and clothing even after the mites are gone.
Our process, step by step
The single most important step is finding and removing the nest, because treating the bedroom while the source remains in the roof only gives temporary relief. Our technician goes into the roof void and around the eaves and gutters, bags and removes nesting material, and treats the nest site and surrounding timbers with a residual spray or insecticidal dust. Inside, we treat the affected rooms with a light residual spray along skirting, window frames, light fittings and around ceiling penetrations where the mites come through. We then recommend or carry out bird proofing, such as closing gaps with mesh or fitting spikes or netting, so new birds cannot move into the same spot. Because a few mites may emerge in the days after, we check back if symptoms continue.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bird mite control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Keep gutters clean so birds are not encouraged to build nests in them.
- Fit mesh or plastic closures under the first row of roof tiles and over gaps in fascia boards.
- Do not feed pigeons near the house, as a reliable food supply keeps them nesting on your roof.
- Watch your roofline in spring; if you see pigeons or mynas going in and out of a gap, have it dealt with before they lay eggs.
- Keep chicken coops well away from the house and treat them for mites regularly if you keep poultry.
How much will it cost?
The price depends mainly on how many nests there are, how easy the roof void and eaves are to get into, and how many rooms need treating inside. Bird proofing work such as mesh or spikes is quoted separately depending on the length of roofline and the materials needed. We give a free quote after inspection, and photos of the roofline sent via WhatsApp help us prepare.
In Cape Town, pigeons can breed almost all year, but mynas, sparrows and starlings nest most heavily from late winter through spring and early summer. Bird mite complaints usually peak a few weeks after the chicks leave the nest, which tends to be in spring and early summer. Warm weather also speeds up the mites' activity, so problems are most noticeable in the hotter months.
Questions we get asked in Strand
Why do I find cockroaches in my Strand holiday flat every time I come back?
Usually they are coming from neighbouring units or the shared refuse room, not starting in your flat. Treating your unit helps, but the best results come when the body corporate treats the ducts and bin areas at the same time.
Do you come out to Strand for bird mite control?
Yes. Strand is part of our regular Helderberg route, along with Somerset West, Gordon's Bay, Macassar, Helderberg. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Will you stop the birds coming back?
We can close gaps and fit mesh, spikes or netting depending on the building. Without proofing, new birds will often use the same spot next season.
How do I know it is bird mites and not bed bugs?
Bird mites are tiny and fast and are often seen near windows and ceilings, while bed bugs are larger and hide in beds. Recent bird activity on the roof is a strong clue, and we can check both.
Can you stop gulls from nesting on our block's roof near the beach?
Yes. Bird netting, spikes and wire systems on the roof edges and plant areas make the building far less attractive, and it is best installed before the nesting season starts.
Do I need to remove the nest if the birds have already gone?
Yes. An empty nest is exactly when the mites go looking for new hosts, and the old nest also feeds other insects.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
