Constantia means big plots, old oaks, vineyards and horses, so pest control here is often as much about the garden and outbuildings as the house itself. Squirrels in the roof, rats around the stables and wasps in the hedges are everyday conversations in the valley.
The local picture in Constantia
Schools, consulting rooms and restaurants in the area book periodic disinfection, and we sanitise cottages and staff quarters between tenants.
The valley climbs up to the Constantiaberg and the edge of Table Mountain National Park, with wine farms such as Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia on the slopes. It gets noticeably more winter rain than most of the city, so gardens stay lush and soil stays damp well into spring. Greenbelts and small streams thread through the suburb, and the oaks drop enough acorns to feed a healthy squirrel population. Summer afternoons in the vineyards turn warm and still, which wasps love.
Rodents lead the list, helped by horse feed, chicken coops, compost and all those outbuildings. Grey squirrels getting into roof spaces is a very Constantia problem. Paper wasps under eaves and in clipped hedges are a summer staple, and older thatch and timber bring borer questions whenever a house changes hands.
From the technician
A common mistake is to fog first and wipe later. Dirt and grease shield viruses from disinfectant, so we clean the high-touch points before the fogger goes on.
How to tell you have a problem
- Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
How the treatment works
We start with the boring part that matters most: wiping down high-touch surfaces by hand with a suitable disinfectant, because fogging alone does not scrub a greasy door handle. Then we fog the rooms with a ULV fogger, which puts out a fine mist that settles on surfaces, including the ones nobody thinks to wipe. We choose products that are suitable for the surfaces and the people who will use the space, and we tell you how long to keep the area closed before re-entry. Electronics are covered or wiped rather than soaked. Afterwards you get a short report listing the areas treated and the product used.
- Quick call or WhatsApp
Tell us what happened, the size of the space and when you need it back. We plan around your hours, including after-hours and weekends on request.
- Walk-through
We check the layout, the high-touch points and anything sensitive like server rooms, food areas or medical equipment.
- Manual wipe-down
Handles, switches, desks, counters, taps and shared equipment are wiped with disinfectant first.
- ULV fogging
Each room is fogged with the doors closed, then left for the recommended contact time.
- Ventilate and hand back
We open up, confirm the re-entry time and leave a written report for your records.
Prevention that actually works
- Put a daily wipe-down of handles, switches and shared phones on someone's task list, not just the cleaner's.
- Open windows where you can. Cape Town's south-easter is good for something, and moving air dilutes airborne virus.
- Know who to phone before you need it, so a positive case does not turn into a day of scrambling.
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
- Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.
How much will it cost?
The cost depends mostly on floor area and how many separate rooms need fogging. Heavy furniture, lots of electronics or food preparation areas take more time because they need careful wiping and covering. After-hours or weekend work and repeat treatments during an ongoing outbreak also affect the quote, which is free.
Our busiest disinfection months are the wet Cape winters, from about May to August, when people are packed indoors with the windows shut and flu and colds spread fast. We still see call-outs in summer, usually after a single case in an office or a care home.
COVID-19 Disinfection questions from Constantia
Does fogging kill the COVID-19 virus?
The disinfectants we use are effective against enveloped viruses on surfaces when they are given the right contact time. Fogging treats surfaces in the room; it does not make the air or the people in it immune.
Do you come out to Constantia for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Constantia is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Bergvliet, Tokai, Plumstead, Diep River. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
How long before staff can go back in?
Usually a couple of hours after fogging, once the room has been aired. We confirm the exact time on the day based on the product used.
Does a thatched roof in Constantia need special treatment for borer?
The grass itself is not what borers are after, but the poles and battens holding it up can be. We inspect the visible timber for fresh holes and dust and treat only if there is active infestation.
Can you stop squirrels getting into my roof in Constantia?
Yes, but the lasting fix is physical. We find where they are getting in, usually a fascia gap or loose ridge tile next to an oak branch, and advise on sealing it once the roof is empty; cutting branches back from the roof helps a lot.
Do you give a certificate or report?
You get a post-treatment report listing the areas treated and the product used, which most landlords and head offices accept as proof.
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