Pest control in Cullinan often means looking after old buildings: wood borer and termites in original timber, roof rats in tin-roofed cottages, bees in walls, and cockroaches in the restaurants and guesthouses that serve visitors. Combat Pest Control serves Cullinan from Johannesburg, inspects carefully, and treats in a way that suits older structures.
A historic mining village east of Pretoria
Cullinan is the small diamond-mining town east of Pretoria, best known for the Premier Mine where the Cullinan Diamond was found in 1905. The village has kept much of its early character, with rows of old mine houses, corrugated iron roofs, verandas, and plenty of timber in floors, ceilings and roof structures. Today many of those buildings are homes, guesthouses, restaurants, shops and galleries, and the town draws a steady stream of weekend visitors.
Old buildings are not dirtier than new ones. They simply have more gaps, more original timber and more years of wear, and pests make use of all three.
What we treat most in Cullinan
Wood borer
Old pine floors, ceiling boards, roof beams and antique furniture are classic wood borer targets. Look for small round exit holes with fine, pale powder beneath them; fresh powder means the beetles are still active inside the wood. Treatment involves applying a registered product to the affected timber, and in heritage buildings we take care to keep the timber and its finish intact. See our wood borer treatment page for what's involved.
Subterranean termites
Termites come up from the soil, often through cracks in old foundations or where timber sits close to the ground, and work into door frames, floor joists and skirting boards. In old houses with suspended timber floors, they can be active under the floor for a long time before anyone notices. We inspect under floors where we can and look for mud tubes on foundation walls.
Roof rats under tin roofs
Corrugated roofs on older cottages often have open ends at the eaves and gaps over the walls, which is all a roof rat needs. Trees, creepers and veranda posts give them a way up. We bait outside in lockable stations, trap in the roof space and show you where to fit eave closures and seal gaps.
Bees in walls and ceilings
Swarms settle in wall cavities, chimneys and the space between ceiling boards and the roof. Where possible we work with a beekeeper to remove them, and we'll advise on sealing the entry once the bees and comb are gone.
Cockroaches and flies in hospitality kitchens
Restaurants, coffee shops and guesthouse kitchens deal with German cockroaches, which hide in warm equipment and cracks, and with flies in summer. Gel baiting, targeted treatment and a scheduled service with records keep kitchens clean and inspection-ready.
Selling or buying an old Cullinan property
Buyers, banks and conveyancers often ask for an entomological certificate before a property transfers, and in a village of old timber buildings that inspection matters. We inspect for wood borer and termites, report what we find, and issue the certificate if there's no active infestation. Our entomological inspections page explains the process.
How we work on older buildings
We inspect before we treat, and in heritage buildings that includes the roof space, under suspended floors where there's access, and the foundations. Our sprays are odourless and non-staining, so they're safe on old finishes and fabrics. Guests and residents don't need to leave for normal insect work; keep people and pets off any freshly treated surface until it has dried. For guesthouses we plan visits around bookings.
A common mistake with old timber
Sanding and varnishing an old floor that has borer holes in it, without checking whether the infestation is still active. The new finish looks beautiful for a season, and then fresh holes appear through it. Have the timber checked first, and treated if necessary, before you refinish.
A Cullinan tip
Look along the eaves where the corrugated sheets sit on the wall. If you can see daylight in the ridges, a rat can get in. Profiled foam or metal eave closures cost little, are easy to fit and keep out rats, birds and bees in one go.
What it costs and why
Cost depends on what we find. A general insect treatment for a cottage is modest. Wood borer work depends on how much timber is affected and how accessible it is, and termite treatment depends on the building's perimeter and whether we have to drill through paving or old floors. Hospitality contracts depend on the size of the kitchen and how often we visit. There's a guide "from" price on this page and more on our pest control prices page.
We also work in nearby Rayton, and every service we offer is on the pest control Johannesburg page.
Combat Pest Control belongs to Jason van Heerden, who has been controlling pests for 25 years. We're registered with SAPCA and with the Department of Agriculture, we can reach you within 24 hours, general treatments are guaranteed for 3 months and termite treatments for 5 years with a certificate. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the holes or the activity you've spotted.
Questions we get asked
How much does wood borer treatment cost in an old Cullinan house?
The amount of damaged wood and how hard it is to get at set the price. A floor in one room is a far smaller job than a whole roof structure. We inspect first, and the guide price on this page shows where general work starts.
Can you treat a heritage building without damaging it?
Yes. We use odourless, non-staining products, apply wood borer treatments to suit the timber, and avoid drilling or trenching where another method will do.
Do you issue entomological certificates for property sales?
Yes. We inspect for wood borer and termites, report our findings and issue the certificate if there's no active infestation.
Do guests have to leave the guesthouse during treatment?
No, not for normal insect treatments. We plan around bookings and treat rooms when they're empty where possible.
Why do I hear rats in my tin roof?
Corrugated roofs often have open ends at the eaves and gaps over the walls. Roof rats climb trees or veranda posts and get in through those gaps.
How long does a termite treatment last?
Our termite treatments carry a 5-year guarantee and a treatment certificate. Building work, new paving or flowerbeds against the walls can break the treated zone, so tell us if you renovate.