Wood Borer Treatment Oranjezicht

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.

Rats and squirrels moving in from the mountain are the most common issue. Wood borer in old timber, fishmoths in damp rooms and wasps in summer are regular calls. Ants come indoors in the dry, windy months.

What gives them away

1. Adult beetles found on windowsills or near lights in late spring and summer.
2. Fine powder, called frass, building up under wooden items or on the floor below roof timbers.
3. Timber that breaks easily and shows a network of tunnels inside.
4. A beetle inspection for a property transfer has flagged activity.

Worth knowing

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.

How we handle wood borer treatment in Oranjezicht

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.

Want the full step-by-step? See how our wood borer treatment service works.

Stopping a repeat visit

• 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.
• Seal or varnish bare wood surfaces, because beetles prefer to lay eggs in rough, untreated grain.
• Keep the roof space ventilated and fix leaks quickly, since damp timber attracts borer.
• If you are buying or selling, book the beetle inspection early so it does not delay the transfer.

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.

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.

Wood Borer Treatment questions from Oranjezicht

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