Clifton is a narrow strip of houses and bungalows clinging to the granite between Victoria Road and its four famous beaches. Access is mostly by long flights of stairs and pathways, which shapes how we work and how pests spread between properties packed onto the slope.
Clifton: what drives timber pests here
Timber bungalows, decks and cladding are at real risk from wood borer, especially with salt air and damp. Regular inspections and a beetle certificate before sale are essential.
Homes range from small wooden and stone bungalows near the sand to large multi-level houses and apartment blocks higher up. Many are built right into the rock with storerooms and voids underneath that stay damp and dark. Timber cladding, decks and old bungalows make borer a real concern, and holiday lets bring a steady flow of luggage and groceries.
Roof rats and mice in voids under houses and roofs are a common call. Ants and cockroaches follow food in holiday homes, and wood borer is a serious matter for timber bungalows. Gulls and pigeons are an ongoing irritation on decks and roofs.
How to tell you have a problem
- Tunnels or loose patches in the thatch where rodents have been moving.
- Droppings on beams or along the top of walls under the thatch.
- Insects such as cockroaches or spiders falling from the ceiling.
- Small round exit holes in the poles, especially in the paler sapwood.
- Birds pulling reed out of the roof or nesting under the eaves.
A note from the field
If you have a pool or pond next to a lapa, mention it. We plan treatments under thatch so nothing drifts into the water.
Pale, fresh powder means activity; dark, compacted dust in old holes usually means the beetles left long ago. That distinction saves a lot of unnecessary treatment.
What happens when we come out
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.
Prevention that actually works
- Do not store firewood or boxes against the walls under the thatch, as they give insects and rodents cover.
- Ask your thatcher to check the poles and laths for borer whenever the roof is being repaired or re-combed.
- Have open thatch ceilings in lapas and lodges checked once a year, since problems are easy to see early.
- Fit bird netting or wire at the eaves if birds keep pulling reed or nesting there.
- Have electrical wiring in the roof inspected regularly, especially if you have had rodents.
How much will it cost?
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.
Questions we get asked in Clifton
How do I know if the borer is still active?
Fresh, pale powder below the poles and clean-edged holes point to active borer. We can tell you on inspection, or send us a photo on WhatsApp first.
How do you get equipment down to Clifton homes with only stair access?
We carry what we need by hand and plan the visit around the stairs and pathways. Let us know the access route when you book so we can bring the right kit.
Is there a guarantee?
Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee, and the report records exactly what was treated.
Do I need to move out?
Usually not. We will tell you which rooms to keep clear during treatment and for how long.
Do you come out to Clifton for thatch treatment?
Yes. Clifton is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Atlantic Seaboard, Sea Point. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Is wood borer a big issue for Clifton bungalows?
It can be, because many bungalows are built from timber that stays damp from sea air. A yearly inspection catches beetle activity early and keeps the structure sound.
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