Table View is big, busy and windy, with the famous postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay. Between the beachfront, the Rietvlei wetland and the shopping strips along Blaauwberg Road, we see a bit of everything here.
German cockroaches in Table View flats and restaurants
German cockroaches are one of Table View's most common pest calls, in apartment blocks, townhouse complexes and the restaurants and takeaways along Blaauwberg Road. They breed in warm kitchens, behind fridges and stoves, and in the motors of dishwashers and microwaves, and they spread between flats through shared plumbing. American cockroaches come up from drains and stormwater in summer.
We use gel baits and dusts in cracks and appliance voids rather than open spraying, and treat drains for American cockroaches. For flats we recommend treating neighbouring units together.
The South-Easter blasts across the flats in summer, carrying sand and grit into garages and sliding door tracks.
Something most people miss
German cockroach egg cases protect the developing young from most insecticides. That is why a follow-up visit is not an upsell; it is part of a proper treatment.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Cockroaches walk through drains, rubbish and decaying matter and then over plates, counters and food, spreading bacteria that can cause food poisoning and stomach illness. Proteins in their droppings, saliva and shed skins are a well-known trigger for asthma and allergies, particularly in children. German cockroaches can build up to thousands in a single kitchen within months. For restaurants, takeaways and food factories, a single cockroach seen by a customer or inspector can lead to complaints, bad reviews or a forced closure.
Our process, step by step
Gel bait is the backbone of most cockroach treatments. It is placed in tiny spots inside hinges, cracks and appliance housings where cockroaches feed, and because they feed on each other's droppings, the bait passes through the population. We add an insect growth regulator for German cockroaches so the young cannot mature and breed. For American cockroaches, we treat floor drains, manholes and entry points with a residual product, and use dusts in wall voids and ceiling spaces. We avoid broad spraying of open surfaces because it is less effective and adds unnecessary chemicals to your home.
- Identify the cockroach
German or American makes a big difference to where we treat. A WhatsApp photo is usually enough to tell.
- Inspect harbourage
We check hinges, behind and under appliances, motor compartments, drains, and electrical points with a torch.
- Map the infestation
We note which rooms or units are affected, and whether neighbouring flats or shared drains are involved.
- Bait and growth regulator
Gel bait goes into feeding spots, and a growth regulator breaks the breeding cycle.
- Drains and voids
Floor drains, manholes and wall voids are treated to stop American cockroaches getting in.
- Follow-up and report
German cockroach jobs usually need a follow-up visit to catch hatching nymphs, and you get a report with proofing advice.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Take rubbish out every evening and keep outside bins with tight lids away from doors.
- Seal gaps where pipes and cables pass through walls under sinks and behind appliances.
- Check cardboard boxes, second-hand appliances and furniture before bringing them indoors.
- Clean behind and under the stove and fridge every few months, since grease build-up there feeds a lot of cockroaches.
- Keep floor drains covered and run water down little-used drains weekly so the traps stay full.
Pricing, honestly
Price depends largely on the species and how big the population is, with German cockroaches in a well-established kitchen taking more time and usually a follow-up visit. The size of the home or business, the number of units involved and the amount of equipment and cupboards to treat all affect the quote. Restaurants and food businesses often go onto a regular contract, which tends to work out better value than repeated once-off treatments, and the quote is free.
For the occasional big American cockroach wandering in from the drain, a drain cover and some sealing will often do the trick. German cockroaches are a different story, and I would say DIY sprays and foggers make most infestations worse by scattering them into the walls and next door. If you are seeing small cockroaches in the kitchen during the day, you need a professional.
Cockroach Control questions from Table View
Can you treat a whole block of flats?
Yes, and it is the best way to deal with German cockroaches in a block. Treating one flat while the neighbours are infested usually leads to quick reinfestation.
Do cockroaches fly in Cape Town?
American cockroaches can fly or glide short distances, mostly on hot, humid nights. German cockroaches have wings but rarely fly.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
For gel bait treatments, no. If residual products are used in certain areas, we will tell you how long to keep children and pets away, usually just until it has dried.
Can you treat a Table View restaurant without closing it?
Yes. We can treat after hours, and gel baits don't need the kitchen cleared for long.
How many treatments will I need?
American cockroaches often need just one. German cockroaches usually need a second visit a few weeks later to deal with nymphs hatching from protected egg cases.
Why am I seeing more cockroaches after the treatment?
For a few days, cockroaches affected by the bait often come out into the open before they die. This is normal, and numbers should drop clearly within one to two weeks.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
