Pest control in Regents Park centres on the age of the houses. Wood borer and termites in old timber floors and roofs, roof rats in ceilings, cockroaches in kitchens, fish moths in cupboards and ants are what we're usually called for. We inspect room by room, confirm exactly which pest is at work, and treat it with the right method.
An older suburb with older problems
Regents Park is one of the established southern suburbs, close to Rosettenville, Kenilworth and Turffontein. Many homes were built decades ago with suspended timber floors, wooden roof trusses, pressed-steel or board ceilings and corrugated iron roofing. Some have been lovingly kept; others have been divided, rented or extended. Either way, timber that has been in place for half a century or more, and roofs that have had time to develop gaps, are what define pest work here.
A walk through a typical Regents Park house
The roof space
Roof rats find their way under loose roof sheeting, through gaps at the eaves and along creepers on the walls. Scratching above the ceiling at night is the usual first sign, followed by droppings and the smell. In older roofs we also look for bird nests, because pigeons and mynas nesting in the roof can leave bird mites behind when the chicks fledge, and those mites then bite people in the rooms below.
The floors and skirting
Small round holes in floorboards with fine, pale powder underneath are the sign of active wood borer. Mud tubes, soft spots and boards that sound hollow suggest subterranean termites. The two are treated in completely different ways, so identifying them correctly matters. Our wood borer treatment in the southern suburbs covers the borer side, and our termite control for Johannesburg South covers the termites, with a 5-year guarantee and a certificate on termite work.
The kitchen
German cockroaches love older kitchens with gaps behind cupboards, lifted tiles and old appliances. Gel bait placed into those hiding cracks is the treatment that works. American cockroaches sometimes come up through old drains, especially where a grid or seal has perished.
Built-in cupboards and bookshelves
Fish moths are silver, fast-moving insects that feed on paper, glue, starch and fabric. They do well in the dark, slightly damp built-in cupboards that older houses tend to have. We treat the cupboards and shelving, and recommend clearing out stacks of old paper and cardboard. See our fish moth control in Johannesburg for more.
The garden
Ants trail in from paving and flowerbeds, especially before storms. We use bait so the workers take it back to the nest, rather than spraying the trail and splitting the colony.
Outbuildings and outside rooms
Many stands here have an old outside room, store or garage built at the same time as the house, often with a timber door frame set straight onto the slab and boxes stacked against the walls. These are favourite spots for brown rats, spiders and, where timber meets damp soil, termites. We include them in every inspection, because a problem that starts in the backyard room usually ends up in the main house.
Thinking of renovating?
If you're planning to sand and seal an old floor, replace a ceiling or open up a roof, ask for an inspection first. It's far easier to treat wood borer or termites while the timber is exposed than after it's been sealed over. If you're adding an extension, the soil under the new slab should be pre-treated for termites.
How the treatment works
After the inspection we explain what we found, show you the evidence and recommend a treatment. Everyday insect treatments are odourless and won't stain floors or furniture, and you can stay at home; keep pets and children off treated surfaces until dry. Rat work uses lockable stations outside and traps in the roof. Wood borer treatment goes directly onto and into the affected timber. Termite work is a soil treatment or baiting around the structure.
The mistake owners make
Assuming old holes in timber are just old. Some are, but if fresh pale dust appears below them, the borer is still active and will keep emerging each summer. A quick test: vacuum the dust away and check again a few weeks later.
What it costs and why
Price depends on the pest and how much of the house is affected. A roof rat treatment or a cockroach job in one kitchen is a modest cost. Wood borer is priced on the amount of timber to be treated, and termites on the building's perimeter, paving and level of activity. We'll give you a written quote after inspecting, and our guide prices show where each service starts.
Regents Park is covered by our Johannesburg South pest control page, and the older stands of nearby Kenilworth have a page of their own.
Jason van Heerden owns Combat Pest Control and has spent 25 years working with exactly these older homes. We're SAPCA registered, registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36, offer service within 24 hours and guarantee general treatments for 3 months. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a close-up photo of the holes or tubes.
Questions we get asked
What does wood borer treatment cost?
It depends on how much timber is affected and whether it's floors, roof timbers or furniture. We inspect, measure the affected areas and quote from there. A guide price is shown on this page.
How do I tell wood borer from termites?
Wood borer leaves small round exit holes with fine powder below them. Termites leave mud tubes and soft, hollow timber, usually without visible holes.
Should I treat before I sand my wooden floors?
Yes. It's much easier and more effective to treat active borer before the floor is sanded and sealed.
What are the bites I'm getting after birds left the roof?
That may be bird mites. When nesting birds leave, the mites look for a new host and can come through ceilings. We treat the nest area and the rooms below.
Do I need to move out for wood borer treatment?
Not for normal surface treatments. If a piece of furniture or an area needs gas fumigation, the sealed area has to be vacated until it's cleared, and we'll explain that beforehand.
Are fish moths harmful?
They don't bite or carry disease, but they damage books, documents, photos and fabric. Treating cupboards and removing old paper keeps them down.