Wasp Nest in a Cavity Wall – How Professionals Treat Hidden Nests in Meopham
An entrance well above ground level changes how you watch, how you stay safe and what you should tell the technician, but it does not change the price.
When the hole is out of reach
Not every nest entrance is low in the wall beside an air brick. Many are high up, near the top of a wall under the eaves, beside an upstairs window or close to the roofline. From the ground they are harder to see, and what you notice instead is a line of wasps climbing into the air and vanishing at a certain point.
If you live in Meopham, in Kent, and think the wasps are going in at height, you are in good company. It is a common situation, and it does not make the nest any more difficult in terms of price. The fee is fixed at £120 for a nest whatever the position.
What does change is the way you should gather information, and the importance of keeping well away from the area.
The temptation with a high entrance is to assume that it must be somebody else's job or that it cannot be dealt with. Neither is true. A nest at height is simply a nest at height, and the same single visit applies.
Observing at height without a ladder
Resist the thought of fetching a ladder. It puts you in the worst possible position if the wasps react: unsteady, unable to retreat quickly, and next to the entrance. A far better approach is to watch from the ground, a good distance back, using the zoom on your phone for detail.
Things to note:
- How far up the wall the wasps disappear, in storeys or windows
- What the entrance looks like, such as a gap under a roof edge or a crack in the brickwork
- Which side of the house it is on
- Whether the wasps seem to emerge from several points or just one
- Whether wasps are appearing at upstairs windows indoors
Binoculars, if you own a pair, are even better than a phone. Sit down, keep calm, and give it a few minutes on a warm day.
If you have a camera with a good zoom, take a few pictures from the same spot at different times of day. The technician may find these more useful than a description, and they cost you nothing.
Why height matters for safety
A high entrance means the flight line passes over the heads of anyone beneath it, and wasps tend to leave and return along a fairly steady route. The ground below the entrance is therefore a place to avoid, as is anywhere along the line of the path. Moving garden furniture, play equipment and washing lines out of this zone is a sensible step.
Upstairs windows near the entrance should be kept closed. If the wasps are entering above an upstairs room, that room may see more of them indoors than the rest of the house.
Do not use cleaning tools such as long-handled brushes or hoses to knock or spray the entrance. A distant target is no safer than a close one, and the wasps will respond to the disturbance.
If the wasps are entering above a porch, a side door or a path you use regularly, think about using a different route in and out of the house until the visit. It costs a little convenience and removes a real risk.
What to tell us when you ring
Height is important information for the technician. Tell us roughly how high the entrance is, using something like the first-floor window as a reference, and what type of building it is in general terms. Mention if you have noticed anything on the roof or in the gutters nearby.
Also let us know about access: can vehicles and equipment get to that side of the house, is there a side gate, and is the ground clear? Anything you can say about obstacles such as conservatories, parked cars, bins or planters helps.
If anyone in the house is allergic to wasp stings, tell us at the start, so that the booking can be prioritised. We are fully insured and qualified, and work seven days a week.
For a business or a larger property, mention if the area below the entrance is a public space, a car park or a delivery route. The technician may want to arrange for the area to be kept clear, and a few minutes of notice makes this simpler.
The treatment and price
The nest is treated through the entry point, whatever its height. The wall is not opened, and you do not need to be involved apart from keeping people and pets away. Keep windows on that side of the house shut for the duration.
The charge is £120 per nest, one visit guaranteed, no call-out charge and no extra for the time of day. If there is a second nest at the property, the additional one costs £60 extra.
Ask the technician at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down afterwards. Where the nest is at height, the answer may depend on how it can be reached, so it is a good question to raise early.
Sealing a high gap
After the treatment, the gap needs closing, and for a high gap the work usually needs a builder with proper access equipment. Do not attempt it yourself from a ladder, particularly if you are not used to working at height.
Wait until the wasps have gone and the wall is quiet before arranging repairs. Autumn and winter are good times. A builder can repoint, fill or fit mesh, depending on what the gap is.
Getting a visit booked takes one phone call to 01622 410 019 or a message through the contact page form. Same-day service is offered, and evening and weekend appointments are available for domestic and commercial customers.
Remember that a gap at height can be at the junction between two parts of the building, such as where an extension meets the main wall, and these joints can be awkward to fill. A builder will know the right approach for your property.
Wasps on your property in Meopham?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.