Noordhoek still has a semi-rural feel, with smallholdings, horses, wetlands and big gardens running down to Long Beach. That means flies, rodents around feed stores and thatch problems are more common here than in town.
The local picture in Noordhoek
Thatched roofs here can host thatch beetles and wood borer in the poles and laths. Beetle certificates on sale are especially important for thatched properties.
Properties range from old farmhouses and thatched cottages on smallholdings to newer houses in security estates and the busy Farm Village area. Stables, tack rooms, chicken runs and feed sheds are common and attract rats and mice. Thatched roofs need regular checks for borer and nesting birds. Many homes are spread out with outbuildings, which gives pests more places to hide.
Noordhoek lies in a broad valley between Chapman's Peak and Silvermine, with wetlands and vleis behind Long Beach and the Noordhoek Common running toward Kommetjie. Winter rain floods low-lying parts of the valley, and summer brings the South-Easter and dry fynbos. Wildlife from the Table Mountain National Park edges is never far away.
A note from the field
For holiday rentals and lodges, insects falling from an open thatch ceiling are the kind of thing guests photograph. An annual check before the busy season is cheap insurance.
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 gives them away
- Insects such as cockroaches or spiders falling from the ceiling.
- Tunnels or loose patches in the thatch where rodents have been moving.
- Birds pulling reed out of the roof or nesting under the eaves.
- Droppings on beams or along the top of walls under the thatch.
- Rustling or scratching in the roof at night.
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.
How the treatment works
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
- 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.
- Fit bird netting or wire at the eaves if birds keep pulling reed or nesting there.
- Keep trees and creepers trimmed back from the thatch so rodents cannot step straight onto the roof.
- Have open thatch ceilings in lapas and lodges checked once a year, since problems are easy to see early.
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.
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.
Questions we get asked in Noordhoek
Do thatched roofs in Noordhoek need borer treatment?
They often do, especially older thatch with poles and laths that have been damp. We inspect the thatch and timber and advise on treatment and a beetle certificate if you are selling.
Will the treatment damage my thatch?
No. We treat the timbers directly and keep any treatment of the thatch itself light and targeted.
Do you come out to Noordhoek for thatch treatment?
Yes. Noordhoek is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Kommetjie, Masiphumelele, Fish Hoek, Sun Valley. 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.
Is there a guarantee?
Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee, and the report records exactly what was treated.
Can you treat rats on a Noordhoek smallholding without risking horses or dogs?
Yes. We use tamper-resistant bait stations placed where animals cannot reach them, and use traps where needed, choosing the least-toxic effective option.
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