Zonnebloem covers much of what was District Six, between the city centre and Woodstock, with the CPUT campus at its centre. Today it is a mix of campus buildings, newer housing and open land, and that combination gives pests plenty of room.
Timber pests around Zonnebloem
Older homes and church buildings may have timber roofs and floors with borer. Newer buildings are mostly free of it.
The CPUT campus, student residences, schools, churches and mosques sit alongside newer housing developments and older homes. Open land left after the forced removals still surrounds parts of the area. Student residences and shared housing see a quick turnover of occupants, which can bring in bed bugs and cockroaches.
Rats from the open land and old drains are the main concern. German cockroaches and bed bugs show up in residences and shared housing. Pigeons roost on campus and institutional buildings.
How to tell you have a problem
- 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.
- Droppings on beams or along the top of walls under the thatch.
- Small round exit holes in the poles, especially in the paler sapwood.
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.
From the technician
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.
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.
How we handle thatch treatment in Zonnebloem
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
- Have electrical wiring in the roof inspected regularly, especially if you have had rodents.
- Have open thatch ceilings in lapas and lodges checked once a year, since problems are easy to see early.
- Do not store firewood or boxes against the walls under the thatch, as they give insects and rodents cover.
- 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.
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.
Thatch Treatment questions from Zonnebloem
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.
Can you treat a whole student residence in Zonnebloem for bed bugs?
Yes. We inspect, treat affected rooms and neighbouring ones, and give a post-treatment report, which helps residence managers keep track.
Why are there so many rats around the open land in Zonnebloem?
Open land with long grass, dumped waste and old drains gives rats food and shelter. Buildings nearby need sealed entry points and perimeter bait stations to keep them out.
Do you come out to Zonnebloem for thatch treatment?
Yes. Zonnebloem is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Walmer Estate, University Estate, Woodstock, Vredehoek. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do I need to move out?
Usually not. We will tell you which rooms to keep clear during treatment and for how long.
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 074 697 2254