Pest control in Malanshof centres on the age of its homes. Rats get into roofs through gaps that have opened over the years, wood borer works quietly in old trusses and built-in cupboards, ants nest under settled paving, and fish moths and wasps make use of quiet corners. We inspect, confirm the pest, treat it properly and tell you what to fix.
Malanshof: a settled Randburg suburb
Malanshof is a quiet, mostly residential part of Randburg, close to Ferndale and with commercial and light-industrial areas a short drive away. Most homes are freestanding, single-storey family houses built in the decades when Randburg was growing fast, many with face-brick walls, tiled or sheeted roofs, wooden ceilings in places and plenty of built-in timber cupboards. Gardens are well established, often with a granny flat or outbuilding at the back.
Houses of this generation are solid, but they've had time to develop small weaknesses: roof tiles that have shifted, fascia boards with gaps behind them, door frames that have dropped, and timber that has been in place long enough for wood-boring beetles to find it. That is what drives most of our calls here.
The pests that matter in Malanshof
Rats and mice in the roof
The first sign is usually a scuttling noise above the bedroom ceiling just after dark, followed by droppings in the garage or the back of a kitchen cupboard. Older tiled roofs give rodents lots of small entry points at the eaves and the gable ends. We bait outside in lockable stations, trap in the roof space and mark up the entry points. There's more detail on our rat control for Randburg homes.
Wood borer
Little round holes about the size of a pencil lead, with fine, flour-like dust beneath them, mean wood-boring beetles have been at work. In Malanshof we find them in roof trusses, old built-in cupboards, pine skirting and the occasional piece of antique furniture. Active borer leaves fresh, pale dust; old holes with no dust may be long dead. We confirm whether the infestation is live before recommending treatment. See our wood borer treatments in Randburg for how affected timber is treated.
Subterranean termites
Wood borer is sometimes confused with termites, and both occur in this kind of house. Termites come up from the soil through mud tubes and hollow out timber from inside, so the surface often looks fine until you press on it. If you find mud tubes, our termite control in Randburg page explains the soil treatment and the 5-year guarantee.
Ants
Old paving that has settled and cracked is full of ant nests. Trails into the kitchen, the dog's food bowl and the sugar bowl follow. Baits taken back to the nest are the way to deal with them.
Fish moths and wasps
Fish moths love old built-in cupboards and boxes of papers in garages. Paper wasps build under the eaves and along the carport from spring. Both are straightforward to treat once we know where they are.
How we handle an older house
An inspection in Malanshof takes in the roof space wherever we can get in, because that's where both rodents and wood borer usually show themselves. We look at the outside of the roofline, the outbuildings and the garden, and we check timber with a probe where we suspect borer or termites. Then we treat what we find and give you a short list of repairs, starting with the most important. Treatments don't smell and won't stain your floors. Nobody needs to move out; just keep the kids and pets off treated surfaces until they're dry.
Signs you shouldn't ignore
- Fresh, pale powder on the floor of a built-in cupboard or under a roof truss.
- Grease marks along the top of a wall or on a beam in the roof, where rats rub as they run.
- A skirting board that sounds hollow or gives under your thumb.
- Sand pushed up between paving bricks after rain.
- A grey paper nest growing under the eaves near a door.
The mistake people make
Painting or varnishing over wood borer holes. It looks tidier, but the beetle larvae inside keep feeding and the adults simply chew new exit holes through the fresh finish. Timber needs to be checked and treated before it's sealed.
A Malanshof tip
Check behind the fascia boards. On many houses of this age there's a gap between the fascia and the roof sheeting or tiles, and it's big enough for a rat. Your roofer can close it with a strip of mesh at the same time as other maintenance.
What it costs and why
The cost of pest control in a Malanshof home depends on what we find and how much of the house is involved. An ant or wasp treatment is small. A rat programme with follow-up visits takes longer. Wood borer and termite work depend on how much timber is affected and how easy it is to reach in the roof. We'll give you a clear quote after inspecting, and the guide "from" prices are on our pest control price list for Johannesburg.
Malanshof is part of our Randburg pest control area, and the nearby Strijdompark business area has its own page.
Combat Pest Control belongs to Jason van Heerden, who does the work himself and has 25 years' experience. SAPCA registered, registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36, service within 24 hours and a 3-month guarantee on general treatments. Ring 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a picture of the holes, dust or droppings.
Questions we get asked
How much does pest control cost in Malanshof?
It depends on the pest and how much of the house is affected. Ants are a small job; wood borer in a roof costs more because of the timber involved. You'll find guide prices on our price page; the final quote follows a look at the house.
How can I tell if wood borer is still active?
Look for fresh, pale, powdery dust under the holes, especially in spring and summer when beetles emerge. Old holes with no dust may be from a past infestation.
Is it wood borer or termites?
Wood borer leaves neat round holes and fine dust. Termites leave mud tubes and hollow timber with no exit holes. The treatments are different, so we check first.
Can you treat wood borer in furniture?
Yes, affected furniture can be treated. Let us know what it is and how old, and we'll advise the best method.
How long will the rats keep coming back?
Until the entry points are closed. Baiting and trapping remove the rats you have; sealing the roof keeps new ones out.
Do I need to move out for a wood borer treatment?
Not for a normal timber treatment. If a fumigation is ever needed, the sealed area must be empty until it's cleared, and we'd explain that well beforehand.