Ocean View sits on the windy slopes above Kommetjie, a close-knit community where flats and family homes are built fairly tightly together. Wind, fynbos edges and shared buildings decide most of the pest problems we deal with here.
Timber pests in Ocean View: what we see
Most homes are brick with limited timber, but roof trusses and wooden doors can be attacked by borer in damp conditions. Checking roof timbers when fixing leaks is sensible.
The housing is a mix of council-built flats, semi-detached and freestanding brick homes, with backyard rooms added on many properties. In the flats, shared stairwells, refuse areas and plumbing give cockroaches and rodents an easy path between units. Backyard structures with gaps at ground level let mice and rats straight in. Older roofs sometimes have loose sheeting where birds and rodents get into the ceiling.
Rats and mice, German cockroaches in flats and fleas are the most common concerns. Flies come up around refuse areas in summer. Scorpions and spiders appear in homes near the veld.
A note from the field
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.
For sellers, borer is often discovered at the worst moment, a week before transfer. Booking the inspection as soon as the house goes on the market takes the pressure off.
How to tell you have a problem
- Faint scratching or ticking sounds from roof timbers on quiet nights.
- A beetle inspection for a property transfer has flagged activity.
- Fine powder, called frass, building up under wooden items or on the floor below roof timbers.
- Floorboards that feel soft or crumble at the edges when you press on them.
- Timber that breaks easily and shows a network of tunnels inside.
- Small round or oval exit holes in timber, furniture or floorboards.
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.
- 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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- If you are buying or selling, book the beetle inspection early so it does not delay the transfer.
- Keep the roof space ventilated and fix leaks quickly, since damp timber attracts borer.
- Use treated timber for any roofing, decking or building work, and check the treatment marks on it.
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
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.
Do you come out to Ocean View for wood borer treatment?
Yes. Ocean View is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Kommetjie, Masiphumelele, Noordhoek, Sun Valley. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Are scorpions common in Ocean View homes?
They do show up, especially in houses near the fynbos and rocky ground. Most are not dangerous, but we can treat entry points and send a WhatsApp photo ID if you are unsure.
Why do cockroaches keep coming back in Ocean View flats?
Because they travel through shared pipes and walls between units. Treating neighbouring flats and the refuse area together gives a much longer-lasting result.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
