Table View is big, busy and windy, with the famous postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay. Between the beachfront, the Rietvlei wetland and the shopping strips along Blaauwberg Road, we see a bit of everything here.
Wood borer and beetle certificates in Table View
Wood borer turns up in Table View in timber roof trusses, wooden ceilings and floors in older homes, and in wooden wendy houses and furniture. It's usually found during a beetle certificate inspection when a home is sold. Many Table View homes change hands, so these inspections are a regular job here.
We inspect the roof space, timber floors and outbuildings for exit holes and fresh frass, treat active borer and issue the beetle certificate for the transfer.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Something most people miss
The European house borer is notifiable in the Western Cape. If we find it, it gets reported and treated properly, which is better for you in the long run.
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.
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
- 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.
- Use treated timber for any roofing, decking or building work, and check the treatment marks on it.
- Check second-hand furniture for holes and fresh powder before you bring it home.
- Have the roof timbers looked at every few years in an older house.
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.
Wood Borer Treatment questions from Table View
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.
Does a Table View beetle inspection include the wendy house?
If the sale agreement includes outbuildings, yes. We check them along with the main house.
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.
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.
Can borer spread from furniture to my roof?
It can, which is why infested furniture should be treated or kept away from untreated timber.
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.
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