Pest control in Selby for industry and commerce

Pest control in Selby is mainly commercial work: rats and mice in warehouses and yards, German cockroaches in staff kitchens and canteens, pigeons roosting in high roofs, flies at refuse points and stored-product insects in goods. We survey the site, set up lockable stations and targeted treatments, and keep a written record of every visit for audits and clients.

Selby's industrial character

Selby sits just south of the Johannesburg CBD, close to Marshalltown, Booysens and Ophirton, on land that was part of the original gold mining belt. Today it's largely light industrial and commercial: warehouses, workshops, wholesalers, distribution yards, motor businesses and a few older residential pockets. Buildings range from old brick sheds with steel roof trusses to newer steel-framed warehouses with roller doors and loading bays.

Large buildings with high roofs, roller doors that stay open all day, pallets, cardboard, staff kitchens and refuse skips: that combination gives rodents, cockroaches and birds everything they need, and they often come in from the neighbouring property or the open mine ground nearby.

The pests that affect Selby businesses

Rats and mice

Brown rats burrow under slabs, along boundary fences and beneath stacked pallets, then enter through open roller doors and gaps under doors and around cable entries. Mice nest inside stock, behind racking and in office ceilings. Both contaminate goods, chew wiring and packaging, and can lead to rejected stock or failed audits. We place lockable, tamper-resistant stations around the perimeter and at entry points, use traps inside sensitive areas, and number every station on a site plan. Our rodent control in Johannesburg South explains the method in more depth.

Cockroaches

Staff kitchens, canteens and change rooms are where German cockroaches settle in industrial buildings. American cockroaches come up through floor drains and sewer connections. Gel bait in harbourage and drain treatment deal with each.

Pigeons and other birds

High roof trusses, ledges and signage give pigeons perfect roosting spots. Droppings damage stock, foul vehicles and floors, and create a slip and health hazard. Nests can carry bird mites. We remove nests and fit spikes, netting or gap sealing to keep birds out of the structure; see our bird proofing in Johannesburg page.

Flies

Refuse skips, food waste from canteens and blocked drains breed house flies and drain flies through summer. Moving skips away from doors and keeping drains clean does most of the work; treatment of resting surfaces finishes the job.

Stored-product insects and termites

Warehouses holding grain, flour, animal feed or dried goods can develop beetle and moth infestations. Where stock or a sealed container is badly affected, fumigation with registered fumigants is sometimes the only practical option; the sealed area must be vacated until it's cleared. Our fumigation service in Johannesburg describes how it's done. Timber pallets and offcuts left on soil can also attract subterranean termites, so we check yards for mud tubes.

Monitoring contracts and records

Most Selby customers are on a scheduled contract. That includes a site survey and station map, regular visits at an agreed frequency, a written service report after each visit noting activity and any proofing problems, and call-outs between visits if something changes. If your clients, insurers or an auditor ask for pest control records, we'll make sure you have them.

Working around your operations

We plan visits around shifts, deliveries and loading, and can come before opening or after closing if that suits. Treatments in food or sensitive areas use baits and traps rather than sprays. Staff don't need to leave for normal treatments; we'll mark and explain any areas to keep clear until dry.

The mistake that costs businesses

Leaving roller doors open all day, every day. A rat or a pigeon only needs a few minutes. Fitting brush seals to the bottom of roller doors, closing them when not loading, and using strip curtains where doors must stay open cuts down entry dramatically.

A Selby tip

Keep a clear, swept strip of about half a metre between racking or stacked goods and the walls. It lets you, and us, see droppings and gnawing early, and it takes away the hidden runways rodents use.

What it costs and why

Commercial pest control is priced on the size of the site, the number of stations, the pests involved and how often we visit. A small workshop with a mouse problem is a simple once-off job. A large warehouse on a monthly contract with bird proofing is quoted after a site survey. Fumigation depends on the volume being treated. The guide price on this page is a starting point, and our pest control prices across Johannesburg list the main services.

Selby falls under our Johannesburg South pest control area, and for the homes and venues just south of the industrial belt, see pest control in Ormonde.

Jason van Heerden owns Combat Pest Control and has 25 years of experience with commercial and industrial sites. We're a SAPCA registered company, 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 to arrange a site survey, or WhatsApp us a photo of the problem.