What we deal with
The common furniture beetle, Anobium punctatum, is the one we find most often in older Cape Town homes, in pine floors, skirtings and furniture. Powder post beetles (Lyctus species) go for the sapwood of hardwoods and leave a very fine, flour-like powder. The big one is the European house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus, which attacks structural softwood like roof trusses and is a notifiable pest in the Western Cape, so suspected cases have to be reported. Older homes in areas with lots of untreated pine roofing are where we see the most borer activity. In thatch and exposed beams we also see other wood-boring beetles, which is why we identify before we treat.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Most borer damage is slow, but it is cumulative, and a roof truss weakened by years of tunnelling can fail under load. The European house borer is the serious one, because it goes for structural timber and is a notifiable pest. Furniture and antiques lose value quickly once borer has hollowed them out. When you sell a property in the Western Cape, an active infestation can hold up the transfer until it is treated and certified.
How we treat it
We start with an inspection to confirm the beetle species and whether the holes are active or old, because old damage does not need treating. Exposed timber such as roof trusses, beams and floor joists is treated with a residual borer spray that penetrates the surface and kills emerging beetles and young larvae. Where the wood is thick or the infestation is deep, we inject product directly into the flight holes and drilled galleries. Badly weakened timber should be replaced by a builder, and we tell you which pieces are past saving. Valuable furniture can be sealed and fumigated instead.
- Inspection
We check the roof space, floors and timber features with good lighting and probe suspect wood.
- Identify the beetle
We confirm the species from the holes, frass and any beetles found, and report European house borer where required.
- Mark the damage
Active areas are mapped, and any structurally weak timber is noted for replacement.
- Spray and inject
Exposed timber is sprayed and heavily infested pieces are injected through the exit holes.
- Report and certificate
You get a written report, and where needed a Certificate of Compliance for the property transfer.
Things most people don't know
Old exit holes do not mean you have a problem today. We see plenty of furniture with holes from decades ago and no live beetles at all.
The mistake people make is filling the holes with wood filler and polishing over them. The larvae are inside the wood, not in the holes.
When we go into a roof, the first thing we look at is the condition of the wall plates and the bottom of the trusses, because damp spots there attract borer.
When it peaks in Cape Town
Adult beetles emerge mainly from late spring through summer, roughly October to February in Cape Town, which is when fresh holes and powder show up. That is the best time to spot an active problem, but treatment can be done all year round.
DIY or call a professional?
You can brush a borer product onto a small piece of furniture yourself and it may do the job. Roof timbers are a different story: getting the product into every face of every truss in a hot, cramped roof is hard work, and missing the European house borer is a real problem. I would always get the roof looked at professionally.
What affects the price
The price depends on how much timber needs treating, how easy the roof space is to get into and which beetle we are dealing with. A single piece of furniture is a very different job to a full roof of trusses. Injection work, replacement advice and certificates for transfers are all included in a free quote once we have seen the property.
Preventing it coming back
- Use treated timber for any roofing, decking or building work, and check the treatment marks on it.
- Keep the roof space ventilated and fix leaks quickly, since damp timber attracts borer.
- Check second-hand furniture for holes and fresh powder before you bring it home.
- Seal or varnish bare wood surfaces, because beetles prefer to lay eggs in rough, untreated grain.
- Have the roof timbers looked at every few years in an older house.
- If you are buying or selling, book the beetle inspection early so it does not delay the transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if the borer holes are still active?
Look for fresh, pale powder below the holes and clean, sharp edges on the holes themselves. Old holes are usually darker and dusty with no new frass.
Is the European house borer really that serious?
Yes. It attacks structural softwood and is a notifiable pest in the Western Cape, so suspected cases have to be reported and treated.
Do I need a beetle certificate to sell my house?
Most property transfers in the Western Cape require a beetle inspection and a Certificate of Compliance. We do the inspection and issue the certificate where the property qualifies.
Can borer spread from furniture to my roof?
It can, which is why infested furniture should be treated or kept away from untreated timber.
Will treatment smell or stain the wood?
Most borer treatments dry with little smell and do not stain bare timber. Polished furniture is treated more carefully.
How long does the treatment last?
Residual borer treatments protect the timber for a long time. Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee, and we can re-inspect later.
Wood Borer Treatment by area
We cover all of these suburbs from our base in Brackenfell. Pick yours for local advice.
