Wood Borer Treatment for Lotus River homes and businesses

Lotus River takes its name from the canal that runs through it towards Zeekoevlei, and that waterway is a big part of the pest picture here. It's a busy residential area with family homes, backyard rooms and small businesses side by side.

Timber pests in Lotus River: what we see

Wooden Wendy houses and old pine roof trusses can get wood borer. Ask for an inspection if you notice fine dust under timber.

Most homes are free-standing or semi-detached brick houses on small stands, many with a Wendy house or extra room in the yard. Backyard structures and storerooms are often where rodents nest first. Small shops and home businesses along the main roads keep food on the premises, which draws cockroaches and mice.

A note from the field

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.

What gives them away

1. A beetle inspection for a property transfer has flagged activity.
2. Adult beetles found on windowsills or near lights in late spring and summer.
3. Fine powder, called frass, building up under wooden items or on the floor below roof timbers.
4. Small round or oval exit holes in timber, furniture or floorboards.
5. Faint scratching or ticking sounds from roof timbers on quiet nights.

How the treatment works

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.

1. Inspection

   We check the roof space, floors and timber features with good lighting and probe suspect wood.

2. Identify the beetle

   We confirm the species from the holes, frass and any beetles found, and report European house borer where required.

3. Mark the damage

   Active areas are mapped, and any structurally weak timber is noted for replacement.

4. Spray and inject

   Exposed timber is sprayed and heavily infested pieces are injected through the exit holes.

5. Report and certificate

   You get a written report, and where needed a Certificate of Compliance for the property transfer.

Stopping a repeat visit

• If you are buying or selling, book the beetle inspection early so it does not delay the transfer.
• 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.
• 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.

How much will it cost?

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

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