Pelican Park is a newer housing area near Zeekoevlei and the Strandfontein coast, with lots of young families. Water nearby means mosquitoes and midges, and new homes on sandy ground bring ants and mice.
Timber pests around Pelican Park
Newer homes have limited timber, mainly roof trusses and doors. Borer is rare but worth checking if roofs leak.
Most homes are newer subsidy and bonded houses, built close together with small yards. Modern construction is fairly tight, but gaps around doors, pipes and roof edges still let in insects and mice. Many homes have added backyard rooms or extensions. Shared open spaces and parks sit between housing blocks.
Pelican Park sits on flat, sandy ground between Zeekoevlei and the False Bay coast, near the Strandfontein bird sanctuary. The South-Easter blows sand and litter in summer, and winter rain can pool in low spots. The vlei and wetlands hold water year-round.
Mosquitoes and midges from the vlei are a big seasonal issue. Ants and mice in new homes are common. Flies and fleas round out the usual calls.
Something most people miss
Borer treatments are applied in the roof or to furniture, not in living areas, so children and pets just need to stay clear while we work and while it dries.
Tell-tale signs
- Floorboards that feel soft or crumble at the edges when you press on them.
- Faint scratching or ticking sounds from roof timbers on quiet nights.
- Small round or oval exit holes in timber, furniture or floorboards.
- Timber that breaks easily and shows a network of tunnels inside.
- 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.
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.
What happens when we come out
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- Seal or varnish bare wood surfaces, because beetles prefer to lay eggs in rough, untreated grain.
- Check second-hand furniture for holes and fresh powder before you bring it home.
- Use treated timber for any roofing, decking or building work, and check the treatment marks on it.
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.
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
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 Pelican Park for wood borer treatment?
Yes. Pelican Park is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Strandfontein, Lotus River, Grassy Park, Lavender Hill. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are mosquitoes so bad in Pelican Park?
Because Zeekoevlei and the wetlands nearby provide year-round breeding water. Screening windows and clearing standing water around your home makes a real difference.
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 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.
Do new homes in Pelican Park get mice?
Yes, mice come in from open ground through small gaps around doors and pipes. Sealing those gaps and keeping food stored well keeps them out.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254