Termite Control in Cape Town
Termites do their damage out of sight, eating timber from the inside until a skirting crumbles or a door frame gives way. We find the colony, treat it at source with a soil barrier or baiting system, and give you the inspection certificate you need for peace of mind or a property transfer.
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- PCSIB accredited
- Eco-friendly products
- Free inspection
- Written service report
- Safe around pets & children
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How do you get rid of termites in a Cape Town property?
Termite control depends on the type. Subterranean termites are treated by creating a continuous termiticide barrier in the soil around and under the structure, or by installing a baiting system that the workers carry back to destroy the colony. Drywood termites, which live inside the timber itself, are treated by direct injection or fumigation. In every case an inspection comes first, because spot-treating the damage you can see leaves the colony intact to keep feeding.
Signs you have termites
The type decides the treatment. Subterranean termites nest in the soil and reach timber through mud tubes; they cause the most structural damage. Drywood termites live entirely inside the wood and leave tell-tale pellets. We confirm which before quoting.
Termite damage is hidden by nature, so the early signs are subtle. Any one of these is worth an inspection.
Pencil-thick tunnels of soil running up foundations, walls and piers — the highway subterranean termites travel.
Skirtings, door frames and floors that sound hollow when tapped, or that give way under light pressure.
Small piles of identical shed wings near windows and light fittings after a swarm of alates.
Tiny ridged pellets beneath infested timber — the calling card of drywood termites.
Warped skirtings, blistered paint or sagging floors where timber has been eaten from within.
Doors and windows that suddenly stick, as damaged frames distort under load.
BEFORE YOU TRY IT YOURSELF
Why DIY termite control usually fails
Termites are the pest where getting it wrong is most expensive, because the damage keeps going unseen.
You cannot reach the colony
The nest is in the soil or deep in the timber. Treating the visible damage does nothing to the colony that is causing it.
Spot treatment leaves gaps
Termites exploit the smallest untreated route. A partial, over-the-counter treatment leaves a way through, and they keep feeding.
No barrier, no protection
Real protection is a continuous soil barrier or a monitored baiting system — not something a retail product can create around a whole structure.
How our termite control service works
Termite work is about the structure, not just the room, so the inspection is thorough.
You get a written report, and a certificate where one is required.
Inspect
We survey the structure, garden and boundaries for mud tubes, damage and conducive conditions, and identify the termite type.
Identify
Subterranean or drywood — this determines whether we treat the soil, install baiting or treat the timber directly.
Treat
A continuous soil termiticide barrier, a monitored baiting system, or direct timber treatment — matched to the infestation and the building.
Protect
We address the conditions that invited them — timber-to-soil contact, moisture and access points — to keep the structure protected.
Certify
A written report and, where needed, an inspection certificate for your records or a property transfer.
Home and commercial termite programmes
Same method, different documentation and frequency.
| Included | Residential | Commercial & food premises |
|---|---|---|
| Free site inspection and quote | Yes | Yes |
| Structural termite survey | House and boundary | Full site and outbuildings |
| Soil barrier or baiting | Matched to the structure | Matched to the site |
| Drywood timber treatment | Where required | Where required |
| Written service report | After each visit | After each visit, records on file |
| Inspection certificate | On request (e.g. property sale) | Issued as standard |
| Ongoing monitoring | Optional annual | Scheduled monitoring available |
What a termite problem actually costs you
Termites cause more structural damage to buildings than fire and storms combined in many regions, and they do it silently over months and years.
The costs that catch people out are structural repair, the insurance gap, and the impact on a property sale.
Structural repair
Eaten roof trusses, floor joists and frames are major repairs — far more than the cost of treating the colony early.
The insurance gap
Termite damage is commonly excluded from building insurance as preventable, leaving owners to carry the full repair bill.
Property transfer delays
Many sales require a timber inspection certificate; active termites discovered late can stall or sink a transfer.
Silent escalation
Because the damage is hidden, a colony can feed for years before it is noticed — the earlier it is caught, the cheaper it is.
What does termite control cost in Cape Town?
We quote per structure, because a small cottage and a large double-storey on a full stand need very different amounts of barrier or baiting. Four things move the number:
- Termite type — subterranean soil treatment, baiting and drywood timber treatment are priced differently.
- Size of the structure — the linear metres of foundation to be barriered, or the number of baiting stations.
- Extent of damage — whether existing damage needs treatment and whether timber repair is involved.
- Certificate required — an inspection certificate for a property sale is a defined, separate service.
The inspection and quote are free and carry no obligation. You will have the figure in writing, with the recommended method explained, before any work begins.
If they come back, so do we
Every treatment is backed by a service guarantee. If activity returns within the guarantee period on a proofed property, we return and re-treat at no charge. PCSIB accredited, fully insured, and every product applied strictly to label.
Termite Control across the Cape Peninsula
Based in Kuilsriver and covering greater Cape Town, the Winelands and the West Coast corridor.
Northern Suburbs
Bellville, Brackenfell, Durbanville, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Parow, Goodwood, Panorama, Plattekloof, Welgemoed, Edgemead, Bothasig, Monte Vista, Burgundy Estate, Eversdal, Sonstraal, Oakdale, Stellenberg, Protea Heights, Uitzicht.
Southern Suburbs
Claremont, Newlands, Rondebosch, Rosebank, Mowbray, Observatory, Pinelands, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Plumstead, Bergvliet, Diep River, Meadowridge, Constantia, Bishopscourt, Tokai, Kirstenhof, Lakeside, Retreat, Steenberg, Ottery.
Atlantic Seaboard
Sea Point, Green Point, Mouille Point, Three Anchor Bay, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Oranjezicht, Tamboerskloof, Gardens, Higgovale.
City Bowl
Cape Town CBD, Foreshore, De Waterkant, Bo-Kaap, Vredehoek, Zonnebloem, Woodstock, Salt River.
West Coast and Blouberg
Table View, Parklands, Sunningdale, Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, West Beach, Sunset Beach, Milnerton, Royal Ascot, Century City, Montague Gardens, Paarden Eiland, Melkbosstrand.
Helderberg
Somerset West, Strand, Gordon's Bay.
Not on the list? Call us. We cover surrounding areas in each of these regions.
FAQs
How do I know if it is termites or ants?
Winged termites (alates) have two equal-length pairs of wings and straight antennae; flying ants have unequal wings and bent antennae. Discarded equal-length wings near a window are a strong termite sign. When in doubt, an inspection settles it.
Do you provide inspection certificates for property sales?
Yes. Where a sale or bond requires a timber and termite inspection, we carry out the survey and issue the certificate, and we can treat first if active termites are found.
How long does treatment last?
A properly installed soil barrier or a maintained baiting system provides long-term protection, typically backed by a guarantee period and supported by periodic monitoring. We explain the expected lifespan for the method used.
Is my building insurance likely to cover the damage?
Often not — many policies treat termite damage as preventable and exclude it. This is exactly why early detection and a protective barrier are worth far more than the treatment costs.
Will treatment disrupt my home?
Soil barrier and baiting work is largely carried out around the outside and at access points, with limited internal disruption. We explain what to expect for your specific property before starting.
Can termites come back after treatment?
A complete, correctly installed treatment is designed to stop the colony and prevent re-entry, and monitoring catches any new pressure early. Gaps left by partial DIY work are the usual reason termites return.
Do you treat drywood termites in furniture and roofs?
Yes. Drywood termites living inside timber are treated by direct injection or, for heavier infestations, fumigation — a different method to the soil treatment used for subterranean termites.
How much does termite control cost?
It depends on the termite type, the size of the structure and whether a certificate or repairs are involved. We inspect and quote free of charge, in writing, before any work starts.
Other pests we handle
Rat control
Roof and Norway rats
Mouse control
Fast-breeding rodent
Cockroach control
German and American roaches
Ant control
Colony baiting, not spray
Bed bug treatment
Heat and targeted spray
Bird proofing
Spikes, netting and wire
Commercial pest control
HACCP-aligned programmes
Free inspection
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