Blog Layout

The Importance of Professional Pest Control: When to Call the Experts

apisl2008 • November 12, 2024

In New Zealand, we are blessed with a fairly docile pest landscape. We don’t have to deal with huge poisonous spiders, snakes that live in the roof or many other dangerous insects and animals that are prevalent in other countries. This may lull us into a bit of a false sense of security at times, and it is important to remember while they may not be particularly poisonous as a rule, we do still have animals and insects that can cause major damage and discomfort if they are left to take hold of a property.

It pays to take a proactive approach to pest control on your property as once you have an infestation, it can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes impossible to get rid of pests in your home or at your business premises.

To help you understand at what point it is important to call in an expert to deal with an escalating pest control issue, we have put together this blog post that is relevant to the New Zealand pest ecosystem. Read on to learn about the warning signs that you have a pest problem that may be spiralling out of control.

Pests in Christchurch

Christchurch property owners deal with a few different pests, including ants, fleas, or cockroaches, rodents, birds, insects, spiders and flies. Let’s run through a few signs you might need to start to think about booking professional eradication services for your residential or commercial property. Pests can spread diseases, destroy your property and make your home or business an unhealthy place to be and the key to avoiding a nasty infestation is vigilance.

Visible Signs

Most pests are shy about showing themselves, they may only come out under cover of darkness or scuttle away as you enter a room. If you can see the pests that have made themselves at home on your property, the chances are high that they are beginning to really take hold. Even if you don’t see the pest themselves, you may begin to see the damage or mess they are creating. This can be droppings, food packaging that has been chewed through, or even holes gnawed through your belongings or your wiring.

Rodents

A rodent infestation is every property owner's nightmare. Rats and mice have strong-smelling leavings, and they are carriers for some nasty diseases. They are also prolific breeders, so if you see a rat or a mouse inside or you find visible signs in your pantry, cupboards or wardrobes, it’s essential to act fast. While you may be confident to lay a few traps, if these insidious pests have been spotted inside during the day or in numbers at night, don’t mess around, call the experts before things spiral out of control.

Audible Indicators You Need Pest Control

When the house goes quiet at night, pests tend to rev up their activities. If you can hear scampering or scuttling noises, squeaking or scrabbling in your walls, cupboards, ceiling or even inside your furniture, chances are high that you have a severe pest infestation, and it’s time to call for pest control services.

Avian Infestations

Birds can be particularly noisy as they make their way into your attic, ceiling, or walls. They tend to be loud as the sun is coming up and going down and can easily disturb your sleep with a wake-up at the crack of dawn. In addition to being disturbingly loud, birds tend towards high volumes of droppings, and they bring debris into your home when they are nesting. They can also have tics, fleas and mites, and some even carry salmonella, fungal infections, E. coli and other nasty diseases. While a bird singing in a tree outside your window can be a beautiful thing, it’s important to get professional help if birds have made their way into your home.

Insect Infestations

Alongside rodents and birds, insects, including ants, flies, and cockroaches, can create a hazardous environment on your property. A visible line of ants making its way across your benchtop may not cause alarm, but there is generally a lot more going on below the surface when it comes to insects. It’s important to nip your insect population in the bud in the early stages, as, like rodents, bugs are no slouch when it comes to breeding.

Spiders

When you have insects in your home, spiders move in as they are a rich food source. While we have few poisonous spiders, we do have them, If you spot a white tail inside, you should be very concerned as they multiply quickly, and the bite can cause a severe reaction—or even death. Average spider egg sacs hold around 100 eggs, but they can actually produce up to 2000, a disturbing thought!

Get Professional Pest Control Now

If you are concerned that pests are creating an unsafe or unhygienic atmosphere at your property, it’s important to act fast. Once an infestation has taken root, it can be disruptive and expensive to get it under control, and your property may sustain damage that reduces its value.

Arthurs Roof and Property in Christchurch have the equipment, experience, training and skills to ensure safe, effective pest control. Contact us now before things get out of hand.

< Older Post Newer Post >

How to Safely and Effectively Remove Roof Lichen

By apisl2008 • April 1, 2025

Learn the safest and most effective methods for lichen removal—from DIY tips to expert treatments. Protect your roof and your home.

Why Choose Professional Roof Lichen Treatment for Lasting Results

By apisl2008 • March 26, 2025

If lichen has started its slow creep onto your roof, then you’re probably looking into a few different roof lichen treatment options. There are a lot of them out there, from home-brewed DIY suggestions to full-on professional-grade formulations applied by trained experts. While it’s tempting to choose the DIY route, there’s definitely a case for bringing the professionals in. Professional roof lichen treatment provides lasting results, which is a major plus when it comes to ultra-persistent lichen. Read on as we break down why choosing professional roof lichen treatment can be a major benefit for your roof, now and in the future. The Trouble with DIY Roof Lichen Removal DIY treatments might seem like a quick and easy fix, but they often don’t do the job properly. A lot of home remedies like vinegar, bleach, or store-bought sprays might knock lichen back for a while, but they don’t always get rid of it completely. Lichen is a tough little thing. It’s technically a collection of different organisms, from fungi to bacteria, so it can be difficult to kill with a single DIY treatment. That means it tends to cling on for dear life, and once it takes hold, it’s not going anywhere without a fight. Some homeowners try scrubbing it off or blasting it with a water blaster, but that comes with its own risks. Too much pressure can damage your roof, and if you don’t remove all the spores, the lichen will be back before you know it. The other issue? Most DIY solutions don’t offer long-term protection. You might get rid of what’s visible now, but without a proper treatment plan that kills the base fungus, lichen will just return, meaning more hassle (and cost) for you down the line. Why Professional Roof Lichen Treatment is Worth It They Know What They’re Doing Professional roof cleaners deal with lichen every day. They know exactly what type they’re dealing with, which treatments work best, and how to apply them properly. They also use high-quality, commercial-grade products that aren’t available at your local hardware store, so you’re getting a deeper, more effective clean. Your Roof Stays Lichen Free One of the biggest advantages of going pro is long-term protection. The best treatments don’t just kill off existing lichen; they also prevent it from coming back. That means a cleaner roof for longer and much less maintenance for you. Some companies even offer maintenance plans to keep lichen at bay, saving you the hassle of dealing with it yourself year after year. Protects Your Roof from Damage Lichen might look harmless, but it can be surprisingly destructive. It holds moisture against your roofing materials, which, over time, can lead to cracks, leaks, and even structural issues. If you go at it with a scrub brush or a water blaster, you risk damaging your tiles, shingles, or metal roofing. Professionals, on the other hand, use treatments designed to be tough on lichen but gentle on your roof. So, you won’t end up trading one problem for another. Saves You Time and Effort Let’s be honest: climbing onto your roof to deal with lichen isn’t exactly a fun weekend project. It’s time-consuming, physically demanding, and, if you’re not careful, downright dangerous. Hiring professionals to tackle your roof lichen treatment means you don’t have to lift a finger. They’ve got all the right safety gear, equipment, and know-how to get the job done quickly and effectively. Instead of spending hours battling lichen, you can leave it to the pros and get on with your day. If You Still Prefer DIY… Treating your roof lichen on your own is tougher than calling in the professionals, but if you already have some DIY know-how, then this might be your preference. Our recommendation? Make sure you find a roof lichen treatment that approaches or even matches the professional-grade sprays on the market. Not only will finding the right treatment ensure your lichen is properly dealt with, but it will also prevent that lichen from growing back fast enough to have you out there the following weekend. Something like our DeMoss moss, mould, and lichen remover is ideal here. It’s highly effective for homeowners jumping into lichen removal for themselves, and it’s cheaper than the formulas you’ll find elsewhere. At the end of the day, the number one thing to remember when dealing with roof lichen is to act fast. While this is a slow-growing organism, the damage it creates will last for your roof’s entire lifetime. Invest in a team of professionals to kill off the infestation and spray a protective layer that repels future lichen. If you’re going the DIY route, make sure to choose the right lichen killer and apply it carefully. And when in doubt, the team at Arthur’s Roof & Property is here to guide you. Get rid of roof lichen once and for all with a professional roof lichen treatment. Worried about the damage lichen could be causing to your property right now? Talk to the professionals at Arthur’s Roof & Property about treating your existing infestation and preventing lichen from growing on your roof in future. Get in touch to book your roof lichen treatment today.