Pest control in Robertsham

Pest control in Robertsham most often means mice and rats getting into roofs and garages in winter, subterranean termites in older timber and harvester termites in lawns, cockroaches in kitchens, ants before storms and spiders in garages. We inspect the whole property, deal with the cause rather than just the symptom, and help you close the gaps.

Robertsham at a glance

Robertsham is an established residential suburb in the south, close to Ormonde, Southdale and Forest Hill and within easy reach of the main southern highways. Many homes are solid family houses that have been lived in for decades, often on sloping stands, with mature trees, outbuildings and additions built over the years. A good number of owners have been in their homes for a long time, and that matters: a house that has had a garage converted, a lapa added and the roof patched more than once has more gaps than its original plans ever showed.

Winter rodents: mice or rats?

From around May, as nights get colder, our Robertsham calls shift towards rodents. Knowing which one you've got changes the treatment:

• Mice leave small, rice-grain droppings, chew small holes in packets and boxes, and squeeze through a gap the width of a pencil. They're often in the kitchen, pantry and garage.
• Rats leave much larger droppings, gnaw thicker materials such as irrigation pipes and wooden door edges, and make more noise. Roof rats get in from trees and creepers; brown rats come in at ground level from drains and burrows.

Mice need more stations or traps placed closer together, because they don't travel far from their nest. Our mouse control in Johannesburg South explains the approach. For rats, we bait in lockable stations outside, trap in the roof and point out the entry points.

Termites in long-established homes

Subterranean termites are a real risk in houses of this age, particularly where timber floors, door frames or built-in cupboards sit against outside walls, and where flowerbeds have been built up over the years until the soil sits above the damp-proof course. Mud tubes on walls, bubbling paint along a line and hollow-sounding skirting are the signs. Harvester termites are the separate problem that thins lawns in winter. Both are treated by us, and our termite control across Johannesburg page covers the options, including the 5-year guarantee with a treatment certificate.

The other regulars

Cockroaches

German cockroaches in kitchens are treated with gel bait in their hiding places. American cockroaches entering from outside drains are dealt with by treating drains and gully traps and checking that grids are in place.

Ants

Ants follow paving joints and skirting boards into kitchens and bathrooms, especially after the first summer rains. Baits are carried to the nest.

Spiders

Garages, outbuildings and storerooms full of boxes are where spiders build up. A barrier treatment and clearing clutter keep numbers manageable.

Trees, gutters and the roof line

Big old trees are one of the best things about Robertsham, but branches resting on the roof and gutters packed with leaves cause pest problems. Rats use the branches to reach the eaves, and wet leaf litter in a gutter keeps fascia boards and roof timbers damp, which draws termites and wood-rotting insects. Cleaning gutters before the summer rains and trimming branches back from the roof are two jobs worth doing every year.

How we go about it

We start with a walk around the outside: the roof line, gutters, trees touching the roof, the garage door, air bricks and where pipes enter the house. Then we look inside at the roof space, kitchen, cupboards and floors. After that we explain what we've found and agree on the treatment. Normal insect treatments are odourless and non-staining, and you don't need to leave home; keep children and pets off treated surfaces until they're dry.

Where people go wrong

Putting down a big tray of loose poison in the roof. Rats and mice drag it into wall cavities, some die where nobody can reach them, and the smell lingers for weeks. Meanwhile the gap they came in by is still open.

A Robertsham tip

Check the join where any later addition meets the original house, from a garage conversion to an enclosed stoep. That seam, at roof level and at the slab, is where rodents and termites most often get in on older properties.

What it costs and why

Rodent work is priced on the size of the house, the number of stations and how many follow-ups it takes. Cockroach and ant treatments are generally smaller jobs. Termites cost the most to treat because of drilling, the length of the perimeter and the timber involved. You'll see a guide "from" price on this page, and our pest control costs for Johannesburg list each service. If a couple of traps will solve a single-mouse problem, we'll tell you honestly.

Robertsham is covered by our pest control team for Johannesburg South, and neighbouring Ormonde has a page of its own.

With 25 years of experience, Jason van Heerden runs Combat Pest Control personally. The business holds SAPCA membership and Department of Agriculture registration under Act 36, can usually be on site within 24 hours, and offers a 3-month guarantee on general treatments. Call 084 200 2700 or WhatsApp us a photo of the droppings.