Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Buckland? Here's What to Do
A few photographs and a short list of notes can make the difference between a smooth visit and a slow one. Here is how to gather them safely.
Why details help
When a technician arrives, the sooner they know where to go, the sooner the job is done. They are experienced, but a loft is a big space with many corners, and the nest may not be where you expect. A few clear details from you narrow the search.
None of this requires any special skill. It involves looking, listening and writing a few lines, all from places where you are safe.
Remember that information is a gift to yourself too. A written note means you are not trying to remember details while on the phone with a wasp on the window behind you. It also provides a useful record if you need to refer back.
Photographs from a safe distance
Photos are useful, provided you take them without risk.
- Stand well back from the roofline and photograph the area where wasps enter.
- Take a wider shot showing which side of the house it is.
- Photograph wasps on windows or ceilings from across the room.
- Take a picture of any staining or marks on the ceiling.
- Do not open the hatch or lean into the loft for a shot.
A phone with a zoom is ideal. Send the photos if we ask for them, or keep them to show the technician.
If you are using your phone, label photos by date. The time stamp is useful. A burst of activity at four o'clock on a sunny afternoon tells the technician something, even before they climb the ladder.
Notes to jot down
A simple list of facts is worth more than you might think. Write down:
- The date you first noticed wasps or noises.
- The rooms where wasps have appeared.
- The time of day when activity is heaviest.
- Roughly how many you see at once.
- Any sounds and where they seem to come from.
You do not need to be exact. 'A dozen or so in the back bedroom in the afternoon' is more than enough.
It is worth adding any history. If you had wasps last year in the same place, say so. If you hear the noise only in the warmest part of the day, say that too. Details that seem trivial often turn out to be useful.
Access and the building
Tell us about the loft itself. Where is the hatch? Is there a ladder or a light? Is the floor boarded? What is stored there? If the hatch is stiff, or the landing is narrow, say so. These details help the technician prepare, and they do not change the price.
For commercial premises, mention who holds the keys and whether the roof space is accessed from a stockroom or a corridor.
If you are booking for someone else, such as a parent or a tenant, collect the same details from them first, and pass on a contact number so the technician can reach the person on the day.
Booking
When you are ready, phone 01622 410 019 or use the online form on the contact page. Calls are taken seven days a week, same-day service is available, and evening and weekend times can be arranged. The technician attending is fully insured and qualified, and the one visit guaranteed is built into the price. The treatment price is fixed at £120 per nest, with £60 for a further nest on the same property and no call-out charge.
If anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, say so when you book. We cover Buckland and the surrounding villages, for homes and commercial premises.
A good description also helps us give accurate advice on the phone about what to do while you wait. The more we know, the more specific that advice can be.
A simple technique for noting activity is to pick one window with a view of the roof edge and check it at the same times each day: morning, midday and late afternoon. Write down a rough number each time. After two or three days you will have a pattern, and it tells the technician when the colony is busiest.
If the house has several storeys, note which floor shows the most wasps. Wasps found on the top floor are likelier to come from the loft; those in the kitchen may come from elsewhere.
Finally, if you use a smart phone, share your location with the booking so the technician can find the property easily. Mention any parking restrictions or gates, and whether the house number is hard to see. It sounds trivial but it saves time on the day.
When the visit is over, add the technician's comments to your notes. They will tell you what they found, and it may explain what you had seen.
If you have a doorbell camera or an outdoor security camera pointing at the front of the house, check the footage. It may show a stream of wasps at the roof edge, with time stamps. That is a safe way to gather evidence without leaving the sofa. Mention it when you call; the technician may ask you to describe it.
What not to include
You do not need to try to identify the nest, count the wasps or measure the hole. Do not tell us what you think the treatment should be. Equally, do not take risks to get a better photo. If a detail needs you to go into the loft or climb a ladder, leave it out.
The technician can work out the rest on the day. After treatment, dead wasps can be vacuumed up, and you can ask whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Keep your notes and photographs after the visit. They are handy if you ever need to show how and when a nest was dealt with.
Wasps on your property in Buckland?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.