Borer Treatment & Extermination

Borer Extermination in Wellington, Porirua, and Hutt Valley

Don’t wait until you hear the crunch of weakened floorboards. With comprehensive borer treatments starting from just $950, we remove existing infestations and protect your home from further attacks.

Enjoy long lasting protection with our 5 Year Guarantee.

Stop borer damage in its tracks. Book your professional borer treatment in Wellington today and give your home the protection it deserves.

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Colonial style homes in Wellington

What our customers say

Is Your Home Under Attack from Borer?

Those tiny holes in your antique wooden furniture aren’t just cosmetic damage -they’re a warning sign of a severe borer infestation that could be weakening your home’s structure right now. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to let these destructive pests win the battle.

Borer infestations can often be difficult to detect early on because the larvae spend most of their life cycle inside wood, tunnelling and causing damage. However, acting immediately and booking a borer pest control service upon noticing these telltale signs can help minimise the destruction.

Signs of borer infestation:

  • Small round holes in wooden surfaces
  • Weakened timber structures or spongy floors
  • Fine sawdust-like material (frass)
  • Adult beetles around window sills

If you suspect a borer infestation in your home, contact Combat Pest Control immediately for a proper assessment and wood borer treatment.

Get Borer Infestations Sorted
Old Victorian house vulnerable to borer
Old Victorian house vulnerable to borer

Those tiny holes in your precious wooden furniture aren’t just cosmetic damage—they’re a warning sign of a severe borer infestation that could be weakening your home’s structure right now. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to let these destructive pests win the battle.

Borer infestations can often be difficult to detect early on because the larvae spend most of their life cycle inside wood, tunnelling and causing damage. However, acting immediately and booking a borer pest control service upon noticing these telltale signs can help minimise the destruction.

Signs of borer infestation:

  • Small round holes in wooden surfaces
  • Weakened timber structures or spongy floors
  • Fine sawdust-like material (frass)
  • Adult beetles around window sills

If you suspect a borer infestation in your home, contact Combat Pest Control immediately for a proper assessment and wood borer treatment.

Get Borer Infestations Sorted

FAQ – How do you treat borer?

The treatment of borer needs thorough inspection to identify areas of infestation. We will then apply a saturation treatment to all accessible timber in the areas of infestation killing existing borer and preventing further infestation.

For cosmetic interior timbers that are painted or otherwise coated, it can be impossible for chemical treatments to penetrate the timber and get to the larvae. In this instance we apply lasting surface treatments during the adult flight seasons to interrupt their life cycle.

See all borer control FAQs

“Honestly, a really professional and excellent tradesman”

Nic was so responsive when I asked him to do a borer inspection before I bought my first home. My fear was relieved because he booked me in for a home inspection asap (FREE) and did a really thorough check around my garage, my house and attics, and also the garden!! He confirmed level of borer activity and gave a quote within 2 days. He just came and did the spray today and even helped me sort out the ants that I spot few days ago as well. Honestly, a really professional and excellent tradesman. I highly recommend Nic and Combat Pest Control NZ for any of your pest concerns. Cheers Nic!

- Ha Vo

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Beetle found in an outdoor area indicating a beetle infestation requiring professional pest control
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Borer Control FAQs

A full treatment information sheet is supplied with every appointment confirmation. Though we dream of treating empty houses without furniture, people, or pets; that is not the reality of residential pest control. So, below is a guide, not a rule book. We will always work with you to make practical arrangements, for a successful and stress-free pest service fully backed by our solid guarantees, with no charge for returns.

Answer: Clear out all items from the spaces to be treated to allow full access to all exposed timber scheduled for treatment, and make appropriate vacating plans for interior treatments.

  • Saturation Prep: Completely remove all stored boxes, insulation debris, and loose items from your roof cavity or subfloor crawl space so we can seamlessly access and soak all bare timber foundations and framing.
  • Interior Surface Prep: For cosmetic interior timber treatments, clear items away from the target walls, window sills, or skirting boards. Ensure all fruit bowls, pet dishes, and food packages are stored inside sealed cupboards.
  • External Prep: For weatherboard cladding treatments, move outdoor furniture, potted plants, and vehicles away from external walls to allow clear, unobstructed access to the timber face. Any house washing needs to be completed *before* treatment.

Answer: For structural saturation treatments, people and pets must stay clear of the subfloor or roof zones for 24 hours while the product dries. For interior surface treatments, you must remain out of the treated rooms for 3 hours.

  • 24-Hour Cavity Rule: Subfloor and roof cavity saturation treatments require a strict 24-hour exclusion window from those specific zones until the sodium borate soak has completely dried into the timber. Because these areas are isolated from main living quarters, this rarely disrupts your daily routine.
  • 3-Hour Interior Room Rule: Surface applications targeting interior timbers require all people and pets to remain entirely clear of the treated rooms for a minimum of 3 hours.
  • Product Standards: We utilize industry-leading, professional-grade formulas like PestBor and Biflex. These are applied with precision to keep your household safe while providing maximum protection against boring larvae and emerging borer beetles.

Answer: Existing borer within treated timbers will be eradicated as they contact the chemical barrier, while our long-term residual protections prevent flying adults from re-infesting your home from neighbouring properties.

  • Immediate & Long-Term Shield: Saturation treatments actively kill existing borer larvae inside the wood grain while leaving a deep-penetrating layer that shields accessible timber from further borer damage and re-infestation for 5 or more years.
  • Flight Season Disruption: Painted or coated cosmetic timbers cannot be deep-soaked. Instead, our surface treatments create a highly effective intercepting shield that breaks the breeding cycle as adult beetles emerge during the annual flight window.
  • Ongoing Control: While our formulas stop borer emerging from accessible areas, it is normal for dead beetles to drop from non-accessible spaces (like timber covered deep by insulation) as old generations try to move out.

Answer: Structural saturation treatments can be applied effectively at any time of year—sooner is always better. Meanwhile, surface treatments are best scheduled between September and November right before the borer flight season begins.

  • Year-Round Saturation: Because roof and subfloor cavities have untreated uncoated timber, our 5-year warrantied saturation soaking can be completed in any season with identical efficacy, as it starts working straight away.
  • The Flight Season Window: Surface applications on coated interior timbers or exterior weatherboards are time-sensitive as they work by killing emerging beetles and preventing new infestation. Booking between September and November delivers peak protective value, though treatments in December and early January still provide excellent protection if active beetles are emerging.

Answer: We provide a solid 5-year warranty for bare timber saturation treatments and a 6-month warranty for targeted surface treatments. We recommend a proactive re-treatment every 5 years to maintain a continuous protective shield.

  • 5-Year Saturation Guarantee: Our deep sodium borate soak treatments are fully backed for 5 years, completely eradicating active local populations and stopping any traveling adult beetles from depositing their eggs in your structural framing.
  • 6-Month Surface Guarantee: Surface barrier applications are backed for a 6-month flight cycle due to faster natural environmental breakdown on exposed coatings and weatherboards.
  • Local Wellington Risk: Damp, subfloor microclimates common across coastal and hilly Wellington suburbs accelerate timber vulnerability. Regular maintenance assessments ensure your house attracts less interest from borer and timbers remain strong.

Reclaim Your Home for Unbeatable Value

Couple sleeping peacefully in bed, representing a pest-free home after professional pest control treatment.

Claim back your house from borer with our professional borer treatments and sleep easy knowing the structure of your house is protected.

Expect your borer control treatment to remove the existing infestation and protect your home from further infestation for 5 years starting from $950 per ceiling or subfloor space. All our treatments are guaranteed to deliver to your expectations.

Why not combine your borer control treatment with another service; rodent control ($120 saving), spider control ($30 saving), ant control ($30 saving), or something else that is bugging you to take advantage of our multi-treatment discounts.

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Why Get Rid Of Borer Pests?

Wood-boring insects, particularly the larvae, pose a significant threat to timber structures. If wood borer pest control is not performed, they can cause extensive damage. By burrowing through and chomping away at wood, they can weaken the structure of your home over time.

Two-tooth beetles are a particularly destructive type of borer in New Zealand. Larger than the common house borer, they create extensive tunnels that can lead to moisture damage and wood rot.

Any untreated timber used in your home’s construction is at risk. Certain areas and types of wood are more susceptible to borer infestations. For instance, native New Zealand timbers like rimu and matai, while known for their durability, can be vulnerable under certain conditions.

DIY solutions often prove inadequate due to the complexity of borer infestations. If left unchecked, borer infestations can require major repairs from builders. Professional borer extermination by experienced specialists will help eradicate the current infestation and safeguard your property against future threats.

Get rid of borer now
Wood borer damage with multiple exit holes in timber flooring, indicating active borer infestation in a New Zealand home.

Kick Borer to The Curb with Professional Treatment

Our skilled professionals employ advanced techniques to identify and eliminate wood-boring insects, preventing further damage to your valuable woodwork.

Professional borer control is essential for effective treatment:

  • Instantly kill active borer beetles and larvae on contact
  • Prevent new egg-laying for 5 years
  • Treat entire ceiling and subfloor spaces
  • Protect your home’s structural integrity
  • Safeguard your property’s value

Borer infestations often remain hidden until significant damage occurs or are detected during home sale, renovation, or insurance claim inspections. Instead of waiting until it’s too late, book an appointment at the first signs of borer. When you choose Combat Pest Control for borer treatment in Wellington, we conduct a thorough inspection to identify areas of infestation.

Our treatment involves saturating accessible timber to kill existing borers and prevent future infestations. For painted or coated interior timbers, it can be impossible for chemical treatments to penetrate the timber and get to the larvae. In such cases, we apply surface borer treatments during adult flight seasons to disrupt their life cycle.

As part of our comprehensive treatment, we provide a full-service report that outlines the areas treated and the quantities and concentrations of the products used.

Wellington family in kitchen

During your treatment, we take extra steps to prioritise safety and minimise risks by outlining area exclusion requirements and when it is safe to return. We also provide valuable information and tips to reduce future infestations and maintain the results of your treatment. With our 5-year treatment guarantee against further borer or two-tooth infestations, you can be confident that your home is protected long-term.

Investing in professional wood borer pest control ensures the longevity and structural integrity of your home’s wooden elements, offering peace of mind and preserving the beauty of your home.

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How to Be Free of Borer

Conducting regular preventative maintenance significantly reduces the risk of borer infestations and protects your home’s structural integrity:

  • Perform visual inspections of your home’s exterior and interior and repair any damage promptly.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation in attics, crawl spaces, and basements to reduce moisture and create a less hospitable environment for borers.
  • Address any leaks or sources of moisture promptly to prevent wood decay, which can make it more susceptible to borers.
  • Store firewood outdoors in a well-ventilated area away from your house to prevent borer from entering your home.

If you detect any early warning signs of an infestation, book a borer pest control inspection immediately. Timely treatment is crucial in preventing further damage and helping you address the infestation before it becomes a major problem. Call Combat Pest Control for a free quote today!

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Close-up of a borer larva, a common pest that eats through the structual timber of older homes until it emerges as an adult bettle.

Pest Control Coverage Across Greater Wellington

Our certified technicians provide fast local pest treatments across the entire region with zero travel surcharges. Select your location below:

Wellington City

Karori, Miramar, Johnsonville, Suburbs & CBD.

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Lower Hutt

Petone, Hutt Central, Waterloo & Bays.

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Upper Hutt

Silverstream, Trentham, Wallaceville & Valley.

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Porirua

Whitby, Titahi Bay, Mana, Plimmerton & Coast.

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