Brooklyn is an older, compact suburb near Ysterplaat Air Force Base and the industrial pockets around Paarden Eiland and Montague Gardens. Small houses, busy roads and nearby warehouses mean rats and cockroaches are the main pests we deal with here.
Timber pests in Brooklyn: what we see
Many Brooklyn houses still have their original floorboards and roof timbers, and common furniture beetle likes old pine that has been damp. Expect the buyer's bank to want a beetle certificate if you sell.
Brooklyn is mostly small, older freestanding and semi-detached houses on narrow plots, many with outbuildings or flats added in the back. Older wooden floors and tiled or corrugated roofs often have gaps where rodents get in. Some properties are rented out room by room, which can spread bed bugs and cockroaches.
The suburb is low-lying, close to the coast and the Diep River estuary further north. Winter rain and blocked stormwater drains cause local flooding. The South-Easter blows hard in summer, but the area is flat and gets hot on still days.
What gives them away
- Rustling or scratching in the roof at night.
- Birds pulling reed out of the roof or nesting under the eaves.
- Insects such as cockroaches or spiders falling from the ceiling.
- Tunnels or loose patches in the thatch where rodents have been moving.
Borer in the poles and laths weakens the timbers that carry the weight of the thatch, which is heavy, and serious damage can mean replacing structural members. Rodents nesting in thatch chew electrical cables, and in a thatch roof that is a fire risk to take seriously. Insects dropping from an open thatch ceiling are a nuisance in homes and a real problem in guest lodges and restaurants. Bird nests in thatch can bring mites into bedrooms below.
Worth knowing
A technician looking at a thatch roof checks the wall plates first. That is where rodents get in and where they nest, warm and dry, against the top of the wall.
Borer damage in thatch is often blamed on the reed, but the reed is rarely the problem. It is the poles and laths holding it up that the beetles are after.
How we handle thatch treatment in Brooklyn
We start by inspecting the underside of the roof, the poles, the laths and the eaves, looking for borer exit holes, frass and rodent or bird activity. Affected poles and laths are treated with a borer spray or injection designed for timber, applied to the wood rather than soaked through the thatch. For insects living in the thatch, we use a targeted residual treatment on the underside, keeping it as light as will do the job. Rodents are handled with traps and tamper-resistant bait stations placed at wall plates and entry points, and we advise on bird netting or proofing at the eaves. Fire safety of the thatch itself, such as retardant treatment, is a separate specialist job and we will tell you if it looks overdue.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our thatch treatment service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Have electrical wiring in the roof inspected regularly, especially if you have had rodents.
- Ask your thatcher to check the poles and laths for borer whenever the roof is being repaired or re-combed.
- Keep trees and creepers trimmed back from the thatch so rodents cannot step straight onto the roof.
- Fit bird netting or wire at the eaves if birds keep pulling reed or nesting there.
- Do not store firewood or boxes against the walls under the thatch, as they give insects and rodents cover.
What affects the price
The price depends on the size of the roof, how much of the structure is exposed and how many poles and laths show borer activity. A small lapa with an open underside is a very different job from a double-storey home with a closed ceiling. Rodent and bird work is added where needed, and timber that is too damaged to treat has to be replaced by a builder or thatcher.
Adult borer beetles emerge mainly in the warmer months, so fresh powder and holes often appear from late spring into summer. Rodents move into thatch most during the wet Cape winters when it offers dry shelter. Treatment can be done at any time of year, though a dry day makes inspecting the roof easier.
Thatch Treatment questions from Brooklyn
Why do I hear scratching under my wooden floor in Brooklyn?
It is usually rats that got in through broken air bricks. We bait and seal the vents so they cannot return.
Do the warehouses near Brooklyn bring rats into homes?
They can, since warehouses provide food and shelter. Most rats still live in drains and gardens, so we bait and seal around your house too.
Do you come out to Brooklyn for thatch treatment?
Yes. Brooklyn is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Rugby, Milnerton, Maitland, Montague Gardens. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do you treat the thatch for fire?
No, fire retardant treatment is a specialist job for thatching contractors. We treat the pests in the roof and will point out if the thatch looks like it needs attention.
Will the treatment damage my thatch?
No. We treat the timbers directly and keep any treatment of the thatch itself light and targeted.
Do I need to move out?
Usually not. We will tell you which rooms to keep clear during treatment and for how long.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254