Pest control in Lyttelton, Centurion

Pest control in Lyttelton covers termites and wood borer in older houses, German cockroaches in flats, shops and takeaways, roof rats in established gardens and pigeons on commercial roofs. Combat Pest Control serves Lyttelton from Johannesburg, for homes, body corporates and businesses, with an inspection before every treatment.

The older side of Centurion

Lyttelton and Lyttelton Manor form the older core of what is now Centurion, with many homes dating from the middle of the last century. Houses here often have timber floors, wooden window frames and pitched roofs on timber trusses, set in gardens with large established trees. Over time, flats, townhouses, small shopping centres, workshops and light industry have filled in around them.

Age is the common thread. Timber that has been in place for decades is what termites and wood borer go for. Big trees give roof rats a ladder to the roof. Older blocks of flats and shops with shared plumbing let German cockroaches spread from unit to unit. And the flat roofs, ledges and signage of commercial buildings are popular with pigeons.

What we treat in Lyttelton

Termites and wood borer

Subterranean termites leave mud tubes on walls and hollow out door frames and skirting boards. Wood borer leaves small round holes and fine powder in floors, roof timbers and old furniture. In older homes, both can be present. We identify which you have, treat soil and baiting for termites with a 5-year guarantee and a certificate, and treat affected timber directly for borer. See our Johannesburg termite treatments for the detail.

German cockroaches

In flats, takeaways and shops, German cockroaches live behind appliances, under sinks and inside motor housings and electrical boxes. They breed fast and travel through shared walls. Gel baits in the hiding places, with a follow-up, clear them far better than spraying. Our cockroach control service explains the process.

Roof rats

Roof rats climb trees and creepers and get in under the eaves. Scratching at night and droppings in the roof space are the giveaways. Bait in lockable stations outside, traps in the roof and closing the gaps sorts it out.

Fish moths

Older built-in cupboards and bookshelves suit fish moths, which damage paper, photographs and stored clothes. Treating cracks and improving ventilation keeps them in check.

Pigeons

Pigeons roost on ledges, signboards and roof beams of shops and workshops, leaving droppings on walkways and stock, and bird mites can follow. Spikes, netting and sealing gaps keep them off.

Flats, shops and workshops

For blocks of flats we prefer to treat the whole building at once, including refuse rooms and ducts, so cockroaches can't simply move next door. Shops, takeaways and workshops can have a scheduled contract with lockable bait stations, insect control in kitchens and storerooms, and a service record for each visit, which is useful for health inspections.

A mistake older-home owners make

It's common to see a few small holes in an old floorboard and decide it's just old damage. Sometimes it is. But if there's fresh, pale powder under the holes, wood borer is still active. If a board feels soft or hollow, termites may be at work. Both are easier to deal with early.

A Lyttelton tip

Older homes often had their gardens built up over the years, with beds and paving now sitting higher than the original damp-proof course. Walk around the house and pull soil and mulch back so a clear band of brick shows at the bottom of each wall. It removes a hidden highway for termites.

When to expect each pest

Termites and ants are most active in the warm, wet months, and winged termites swarm after the first big spring storms. Cockroaches carry on indoors all year. Roof rats move indoors in autumn. Pigeons nest through much of the year. Booking a pre-summer check is a good habit for older homes.

How we work

We inspect the outside walls, garden, roof space and timber in the house, or the kitchens, storerooms and roof of a business. Treatments are odourless and won't stain, and you can stay in the building for normal treatments; children and pets should stay off treated surfaces until they're dry. If fumigation is ever needed for furniture or stored goods, registered fumigants are used and the sealed area stays empty until cleared.

What it costs and why

In Lyttelton the bill comes down to three things: the pest, how big the property is and how long the problem has been building. Routine insect and rodent work is the simplest. Termite work depends on the perimeter and activity, and wood borer on how much timber is involved. Whole-block treatments for flats usually cost less per unit, and business contracts depend on the number of visits and stations. The guide "from" price on this page gives you a starting point, and the price list for Combat services covers the main treatments.

We also work across Centurion and in neighbouring Clubview, and our Johannesburg pest control page covers everything else.

Combat Pest Control is owned and run by Jason van Heerden, with 25 years of hands-on pest control experience. We're SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture, we offer service within 24 hours, and general treatments are covered by our 3-month guarantee. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp a photo of the holes, droppings or insects.