Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for New Ash Green Homes
Treatment is only part of the story. This guide covers what you will see in the days after a roof nest is dealt with, and what to do about the gap.
The first few days
Once the nest has been dealt with, the roof does not go quiet in an instant. Wasps that were out foraging at the time come home to find the nest changed, and some of them will circle the old entrance for a while before they leave.
This catches many people out. They see wasps at the gap the next morning and assume the job has failed. In most cases it is simply the last of the workers, who were away from the nest, returning to a place they remember.
In New Ash Green, as elsewhere, the sensible response is to stay clear of the entrance and let the stragglers settle.
The speed with which the activity fades depends on how many workers were away from the nest, and on the weather. A warm day brings more of them back, while a cool, damp one keeps them elsewhere.
It is worth writing down the date of the visit, so you can tell how quickly the activity is declining.
What counts as normal, and what does not
A short list helps separate the ordinary from the unusual.
- A small number of wasps hovering or landing near the old entry for a while: normal.
- A few dead or dying wasps on a windowsill, path or patio: normal.
- Activity that tails off day by day: normal.
- A steady stream that is as busy as before, and not tailing off: not normal, and worth reporting.
- Wasps coming through a ceiling or wall into a room: report it straight away.
If you are unsure, ring the office and describe what you are seeing. A quick call costs nothing and settles the doubt.
Wasps do not leave all at once. Some may linger because they were away foraging and cannot find a home, and these wanderers can be a little irritable. Give them room, and they will go away by themselves.
Handling dead wasps safely
Dead wasps can still sting reflexively for a short time, and a wasp that looks lifeless on a sill may not be. Do not pick them up with bare hands. Use a brush and pan, a stiff piece of card or a gloved hand, and put them in a bag in the outside bin.
Keep children and pets from picking at them, as an animal that eats a dead wasp or is stung by one is a worry. If you find them in the house, sweep them up carefully and keep windows shut until the numbers fall away.
A wasp on its back with its legs moving is still alive. Leave it be, or use a cup and card to carry it outside.
Wash your hands after clearing them up, and keep the brush and pan out of reach of children. Dead wasps do not need to be thrown anywhere special; the outside bin is fine.
Closing the gap for good
Now, and not before, is the moment to repair the entry. The wasps that used it have gone, and a sealed gap cannot trap anything. A roofer, builder or carpenter can reset a tile, replace a soffit, fill a crack or fit a mesh at the eaves.
Take the opportunity to look at the rest of the roofline. A single gap used by wasps often has neighbours, and ten minutes of looking from the ground can find them. Cracked pointing, slipped tiles and warped boards are the usual culprits.
If you rent, tell the landlord or agent what happened. Who arranges and pays for the repair depends on the tenancy agreement, so check it.
Plan the repair for dry weather, if possible, as roofers prefer it and the materials set better. There is no need to wait for autumn if the wasps have gone, since a repair done in summer will protect you from a second colony.
Do not be put off by the noise of work near the old nest area; once the colony has been treated, a hammer or drill on the roof is no longer a risk in the way it was.
The empty nest
The nest itself is a papery shell. Its presence does no harm, but some people prefer it gone, and in some cases it can be unsightly or make a rattling noise in the roof. Whether it can be taken down depends on where it is, and the technician can tell you what is possible.
It is best to raise it when you book. If the nest is inside the roof void, leaving it can be the simplest course. If it is accessible, the technician may be able to say more on the day.
Do not try to pull it out yourself. Even an empty-looking nest may contain a few live wasps, and reaching in with a bare hand is not worth the risk.
Insulation or boards stained by the nest can be replaced at the same time as the repair, if a builder is already on site.
Cost and booking, if you spot another nest
Treating a nest costs a fixed £120 per nest, and attendance is not charged separately. A further nest found on the property is simply £60 extra. That is the price whether it is your first nest of the year or a repeat, and the service covers homes and businesses alike.
Appointments are open seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend slots. If you do see a fresh problem, call 01622 410 019 or use the online form; the form is also the route for an emergency after hours. Insured and qualified technicians carry out the work.
A tidy roof, a repaired gap and a quick look each spring are the best way to avoid a repeat.
If you see another wasp nest at any time, treat it as a fresh problem and call again.
Wasps on your property in New Ash Green?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.