Tamboerskloof climbs steeply up the slopes of Lion's Head and Signal Hill above Kloof Street. Old houses, tight streets and the mountain right behind them make it a suburb where rodents and timber pests are a fact of life.
Tamboerskloof: what drives timber pests here
Wooden floors, staircases and roof timbers in the Victorian homes are prone to common furniture beetle. A beetle certificate is usually requested on sale, and older homes here often need treatment first.
Victorian and Edwardian homes with wooden floors, sash windows and pressed-ceiling interiors sit beside newer apartment blocks and converted guest houses. Many older houses have suspended timber floors with a crawl space underneath, which rats and mice use as a highway. Kloof Street's restaurants and shops add a busy commercial layer at the bottom of the suburb.
Signal Hill and Lion's Head are part of the Table Mountain National Park, and the greenbelt reaches right to the top streets. Winter rain runs down the slope and keeps old basements and retaining walls damp. The suburb is sheltered from some wind, which lets flies and mosquitoes linger on warm evenings.
Rats are the headline issue, coming off the mountain and moving between the restaurants and old homes. Wood borer in floors and roof timbers is common in the older houses. Cockroaches, fishmoths and pigeons fill most of the rest of the calendar.
Something most people miss
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.
Tell-tale signs
- Faint scratching or ticking sounds from roof timbers on quiet nights.
- Fine powder, called frass, building up under wooden items or on the floor below roof timbers.
- Adult beetles found on windowsills or near lights in late spring and summer.
- 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
- 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.
- Have the roof timbers looked at every few years in an older house.
- 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.
Questions we get asked in Tamboerskloof
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 the rats in Tamboerskloof come from Lion's Head?
Some do, especially in the top streets near the greenbelt, but plenty also move between restaurants, bins and old homes lower down. Sealing roof and floor gaps on your house is the key step either way.
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.
Do you come out to Tamboerskloof for wood borer treatment?
Yes. Tamboerskloof is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Gardens, Higgovale, Bo-Kaap, Schotsche Kloof. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can borer spread from furniture to my roof?
It can, which is why infested furniture should be treated or kept away from untreated timber.
My Tamboerskloof Victorian has small holes in the floorboards. Is it wood borer?
Small round exit holes with fine powder underneath are a classic sign of borer. We can inspect, confirm whether it is active and treat it, which also helps when you need a beetle certificate for a sale.
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