Oranjezicht climbs right up to the edge of Table Mountain, so a lot of what comes into homes here walks in off the mountain. Rats, squirrels, wasps and the odd scorpion are all part of living this close to the national park.
The local picture in Oranjezicht
Old pine floors, roof beams and built-in cupboards in Victorian and Edwardian homes are susceptible to borer. Beetle certificates are routine when these homes sell.
Grand Victorian and Edwardian houses with wooden floors, pressed ceilings and old roof timbers sit beside modern glass-fronted homes and small apartment blocks. Many of the older homes have cellars, servant's quarters and large gardens with retaining walls. Gaps in old stonework and roof flashings are where rodents tend to get in. Apartment blocks add shared bin areas and ducts.
The suburb backs onto Table Mountain National Park, with mountain streams, the Molteno reservoir area and De Waal Park nearby. Winter rain runs off the mountain and keeps properties damp, while the South-Easter blows down hard in summer. Trees and greenbelts link gardens directly to the mountain.
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.
Signs to look for
- Tunnels or loose patches in the thatch where rodents have been moving.
- Small round exit holes in the poles, especially in the paler sapwood.
- Droppings on beams or along the top of walls under the thatch.
- Fine powder dropping from the poles or laths onto floors and furniture below.
- Birds pulling reed out of the roof or nesting under the eaves.
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.
Our process, step by step
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- Keep trees and creepers trimmed back from the thatch so rodents cannot step straight onto the roof.
- Do not store firewood or boxes against the walls under the thatch, as they give insects and rodents cover.
- 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.
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 Oranjezicht
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 you come out to Oranjezicht for thatch treatment?
Yes. Oranjezicht is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Gardens, Vredehoek, Tamboerskloof, Higgovale. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do Oranjezicht houses need wood borer checks?
Older homes with original timber often do, especially before a sale. We inspect roof timbers and floors and report any active borer.
Do I need to move out?
Usually not. We will tell you which rooms to keep clear during treatment and for how long.
Why do rats keep coming into my Oranjezicht roof?
Because your property is close to the mountain and greenbelts, which gives them easy access. Sealing gaps in roof flashings and cutting back trees near the roof keeps them out longer.
Will the treatment damage my thatch?
No. We treat the timbers directly and keep any treatment of the thatch itself light and targeted.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
