Sea Point packs a lot into a narrow strip between Lion's Head and the promenade: tall blocks of flats, old Victorian homes, and a non-stop run of restaurants on Main and Regent roads. Most of our work here is in apartments and food businesses.
Timber pests around Sea Point
Older Victorian homes have timber floors and roofs that can carry wood borer, and parquet floors in some flats are also at risk.
High-rise and mid-rise blocks dominate, many built in the 1960s and 1970s with shared refuse rooms and service ducts. There are also older Victorian and Edwardian homes and a growing number of short-term rentals. Restaurants and takeaways along the main roads need ongoing commercial control.
The suburb runs along the Atlantic coast, with sea spray, salt air and the wind funnelling down from Lion's Head and Signal Hill. Winters are wet and summers windy and dry.
What gives them away
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Worth knowing
For landlords, an inspection between tenants is a good time to check the roof timbers. It is cheaper to treat a small area early than to replace trusses later.
How we handle beetle certificate inspection in Sea Point
Our inspector checks all accessible timbers in the roof void, along with exposed woodwork such as floors, skirtings, door frames and built-in cupboards. We look for exit holes, frass, larval galleries and the condition of the timber, and we note any areas that could not be accessed. If the accessible timber is clear, we issue the Certificate of Compliance. If beetle activity is found, we recommend treatment, usually borer injection or spray on the affected timber, or replacement where the wood is too damaged, and re-inspect afterwards before certifying. We will always tell you plainly if something is a cosmetic old hole and if something is active.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our beetle certificate inspection service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Keep records of any timber treatment or roof repairs done on the property, as they help explain what the inspector sees.
- If you are renovating, use treated timber for any new roof work.
- Make sure the roof hatch is accessible and not painted shut or blocked by built-in cupboards.
- Have an older home's roof checked every few years, not only when you sell.
- Order the beetle inspection as soon as a sale is agreed rather than leaving it to the week before transfer.
How much will it cost?
The cost of a beetle inspection depends on the size of the property and how easy it is to access the roof void and timbers. Sectional title units, freestanding homes and larger properties with multiple roof spaces take different amounts of time. If beetle activity is found, treatment or timber replacement is quoted separately based on how much timber is affected.
Beetle inspections are driven by the property market rather than the weather, so we do them all year. Adult beetles of some species emerge in the warmer months, which is when fresh exit holes and frass are often most noticeable. Wet winters can make roof access less pleasant but do not stop an inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Is a beetle certificate required to sell a house in the Western Cape?
In most Western Cape sales, the sale agreement or the buyer's bank requires a beetle Certificate of Compliance before transfer. Your conveyancer will confirm what your agreement requires.
Do you come out to Sea Point for beetle certificate inspection?
Yes. Sea Point is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Three Anchor Bay, Green Point. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
How long does the inspection take?
Most homes are inspected in a single visit. Our average turnaround for bookings is about 48 hours, which helps when a transfer deadline is close.
What is the European house borer?
It is a wood-boring beetle that attacks softwood roof timbers, and it is a notifiable pest in the Western Cape. Finding it means the infested timber must be properly dealt with.
Does the certificate cover the whole house?
It covers the timbers that were accessible at the time of inspection. Areas that could not be reached are noted so everyone knows what was checked.
Who pays for the beetle inspection?
That depends on the terms of the sale agreement, but it is usually the seller. Check with your estate agent or conveyancer.
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