Pest control in Craighall Park focuses on the problems of an older suburb with a shopping strip: wood borer in original floors and roof timbers, roof rats getting into ceilings, cockroaches in shop kitchens and nearby homes, fish moths in cupboards and ants before the rain. We inspect carefully, treat the source and give honest advice about what really needs doing.
The character of Craighall Park
Craighall Park is an established suburb on Jan Smuts Avenue, right next to Craighall, with Blairgowrie close by and the Braamfontein Spruit running along its edge. Many of the homes are older houses, a lot of them from the middle of the twentieth century, with timber floors, wooden window frames and big gardens on fairly compact stands. Along Jan Smuts Avenue there's a strip of shops, restaurants, coffee shops and small businesses.
That gives Craighall Park two different pest settings side by side. The residential streets have older timber, mature trees and gardens. The shopping strip has kitchens, bins, deliveries and storerooms. Rats and cockroaches move between the two.
Wood borer in older Craighall Park homes
The most common question we get from Craighall Park homeowners is about little holes in the floor. Wood borer beetles lay eggs in softwood floorboards, skirting and roof timbers. The larvae tunnel inside the wood for years, then emerge as adults, leaving small round exit holes and little piles of fine, powdery dust called frass.
- Old damage: holes that are dark inside, with no fresh dust, often date from years ago.
- Active borer: fresh, pale, flour-like dust under holes that look clean and new, especially after summer, when adults emerge.
- Not borer: mud tubes and soft, hollow timber are more likely termites, which need a different treatment.
We treat active borer by applying a penetrating treatment to the affected timber, and we'll tell you if the damage is just old and harmless. See wood borer treatments in Randburg for how it's done.
Other Craighall Park pests
Roof rats
Mature trees and creepers bring roof rats onto old roofs, where they get in through gaps at the eaves or around old roof vents. Bait stations outside, traps in the ceiling and proofing the gaps clears them.
Cockroaches, at home and in shops
Restaurants and coffee shops on Jan Smuts Avenue deal with German cockroaches in kitchens and equipment. A regular programme with gel baits, monitoring and a service record keeps them under control and satisfies inspectors. Homes close to the strip sometimes see cockroaches too, as well as large American cockroaches from old drains. Our cockroach treatments around Randburg cover both.
Fish moths
Older homes with built-in cupboards and bookshelves, especially on cool south-facing walls, often have fish moths. They damage paper, books and clothes. A targeted treatment and lower humidity in cupboards help. See fish moth control in Johannesburg.
Ants
Ants trail into kitchens and bathrooms from garden nests, especially before rain. Baits work best. In older homes they often come in through the gaps where old timber skirting has shrunk away from the floor, so a bead of sealant along the worst stretches helps keep them out once the colony has been dealt with.
How we work
For homes, we inspect the house, roof space, floors and garden, then treat in the same visit where possible. Treatments are odourless and non-staining, and you can stay at home; children and pets should simply wait for treated surfaces to dry. For shops and restaurants, we set up a scheduled programme, work outside trading hours and leave a written record after each visit.
A mistake owners make
Replacing a few damaged floorboards and assuming the problem is solved. If the borer is active in the neighbouring boards or the floor joists underneath, it will simply keep going. Treat the whole affected area, then repair.
A Craighall Park tip
Check under your house through the air bricks with a torch, or lift a floor trap door if you have one. If the floor joists and the underside of the boards show fresh dust or new holes, the borer is more widespread than the floor surface suggests.
What it costs and why
Wood borer is priced on how much timber is affected and how easy it is to reach; a few boards in one room is a small job, a whole floor or roof space is bigger. Rats depend on stations and follow-ups. Cockroach, fish moth and ant treatments are modest for a home. Shop and restaurant contracts are priced on the premises and visit frequency. See our pest control guide prices for the "from" figures, and we'll quote after a look.
Craighall Park falls within our Randburg pest control service, and we also treat homes in neighbouring Craighall.
Owner and operator Jason van Heerden brings 25 years in the pest control trade to every job. Combat Pest Control is SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36, we provide service within 24 hours, and general treatments carry a 3-month guarantee. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the holes in your floor.
Questions we get asked
How much does wood borer treatment cost in Craighall Park?
It depends on how much timber is affected and how accessible it is. A few boards cost much less than a whole floor or roof. Guide prices are on our price page.
How do I know if the borer is still active?
Look for fresh, pale, flour-like dust under clean-looking holes, especially after summer. Dark holes with no fresh dust usually mean old damage.
Can you treat my restaurant on Jan Smuts Avenue?
Yes. We set up a scheduled programme with gel baits, monitors and stations, work outside trading hours, and give you a written service record.
Do I need to move out for wood borer treatment?
No. Borer treatments are applied to the affected timber and you can stay home. Keep pets and children off treated areas until dry.
Should I sand my floor before or after treatment?
Have the floor inspected and treated first. Sealing over active borer just means new holes appear through the fresh finish.
Are fish moths harmful?
Not to people. They damage paper, books, photos and some fabrics. Lowering humidity in cupboards and a targeted treatment clears them.