Goodwood straddles Voortrekker Road, with older family homes on the quiet streets and shops, workshops and takeaways on the main drag. We get a fair split between householders with mice in the roof and businesses fighting cockroaches.
The local picture in Goodwood
Post-war homes with timber floors and pine roofs are prime candidates for a borer find during beetle certificate inspections.
Residential streets are lined with post-war freestanding homes, many with tiled roofs, outside rooms and big backyards. Voortrekker Road and the streets off it carry shops, motor workshops, takeaways and flats above businesses. Older homes often have suspended timber floors and old roof timbers. Larger venues and the showgrounds bring crowds and food stalls when events are on.
The area is flat and fairly built-up, sitting between the N1 and the railway line. Summers get hot and dry once you move inland from the coast, and winters are wet and cold. Open ground near the railway and the N1 lets rodents move about.
Mice and rats in roofs, German cockroaches in businesses and flats, and Argentine ants in summer are the bulk of our Goodwood calls. Pigeons along Voortrekker Road and fleas with pets fill in the rest.
Something most people miss
Cables running through thatch should be in conduit. Rodent damage to a bare cable in a thatch roof is a fire risk that is easy to prevent.
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.
Tell-tale signs
- Birds pulling reed out of the roof or nesting under the eaves.
- Droppings on beams or along the top of walls under the thatch.
- Tunnels or loose patches in the thatch where rodents have been moving.
- Fine powder dropping from the poles or laths onto floors and furniture below.
- Insects such as cockroaches or spiders falling from the ceiling.
- Rustling or scratching in the roof at night.
How we handle thatch treatment in Goodwood
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 open thatch ceilings in lapas and lodges checked once a year, since problems are easy to see early.
- 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.
- Ask your thatcher to check the poles and laths for borer whenever the roof is being repaired or re-combed.
- Have electrical wiring in the roof inspected regularly, especially if you have had rodents.
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.
Spraying the underside of your own thatch with a garden insecticide does very little for borer, which lives inside the poles, and soaking thatch in products not meant for it can do more harm than good. We would leave borer and rodent work in thatch to someone who does it regularly. Keeping the roof clear of overhanging trees is the one thing every owner can do themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come out to Goodwood for thatch treatment?
Yes. Goodwood is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Parow, Elsies River, Epping, Thornton. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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 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.
Why do I hear scratching in my Goodwood ceiling at night?
It is usually roof rats or mice, which are active at night. Check for droppings in the roof, and send us a photo on WhatsApp so we can confirm what you're dealing with.
Can you do regular cockroach control for my Voortrekker Road takeaway?
Yes. We can set up a regular service with after-hours visits on request, and a post-treatment report after each visit.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254