Vredehoek clings to the slopes of Devil's Peak above the City Bowl, and it is one of the windiest corners of town when the South-Easter is up. Lots of apartment blocks, a few older houses and the mountain right above shape the pest picture here.
Vredehoek: what drives birds here
Pigeons nest on balconies, ledges and window boxes. Netting and spikes are the usual solutions in the apartment blocks.
Mid-century apartment blocks dominate, with shared refuse rooms, service ducts and basement parking. Older semi-detached houses and some newer townhouses fill the gaps. In the flats, cockroaches and rodents spread through shared spaces; in the houses, roof gaps and old timber are the weak spots.
De Waal Drive and the mountain slopes form the upper boundary, with the greenbelt and Table Mountain National Park beyond. The South-Easter drives dust and leaves into every gap in summer. Winter brings heavy rain and cold, damp air that settles in ground-floor flats and basements.
Tell-tale signs
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
From the technician
Fake owls and shiny CDs work for about a week. Pigeons are not stupid, and once they realise the owl never moves they sit right next to it.
Our process, step by step
We start by watching where the birds actually land and nest, because proofing the wrong ledge is a waste of money. Ledges and beams get bird spikes or tensioned wire systems that stop birds settling. Larger open areas such as courtyards, loading bays and light wells get bird netting fixed to a frame so birds cannot get in at all. Gaps under solar panels and roof tiles are closed with mesh or panel skirting so pigeons cannot nest underneath. Old nests and droppings are removed first, and if bird mites are present we treat the area as well.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bird proofing service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
Pricing, honestly
The cost depends on how many areas need proofing, how high they are and how much access equipment is needed. Netting a large courtyard or a warehouse roof is a bigger job than spiking a few ledges. Clean-out of heavy droppings and any mite treatment are included in the free quote once we have done the site survey.
A few spikes on a low windowsill is a fine DIY job. Netting and solar panel proofing at height is not, both for safety and because poorly tensioned netting sags, traps birds and ends up looking messy. I would rather do it once and do it properly.
Questions we get asked in Vredehoek
Do rats in Vredehoek come from the mountain?
Some do, especially near De Waal Drive and the greenbelt. Keeping refuse rooms clean and sealing basement gaps reduces them a lot.
Will netting be visible?
Bird netting is fine and usually black or clear, so from the ground it is hard to see once it is fitted.
Why am I getting bites after the pigeons left?
That is often bird mites leaving an abandoned nest. They do not live on people, but they bite, and we treat the nest area to stop them.
Can you do commercial buildings?
Yes, a lot of our bird proofing is shops, warehouses and blocks of flats where droppings affect staff and customers.
Do you come out to Vredehoek for bird proofing?
Yes. Vredehoek is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Oranjezicht, Gardens, Zonnebloem, Walmer Estate. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are there cockroaches in my Vredehoek flat when I keep it spotless?
In older blocks they usually come through shared ducts and pipes from other units or the refuse room. A building-wide treatment through the body corporate gives the best results.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254