Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Snave? Here's What to Do
A nest often comes to light when a builder, electrician or installer opens up the roof space. Here is what to do next so that the job can carry on safely.
A nest discovered by a tradesperson
The roof space is rarely visited, so a nest often comes to light when someone else goes up. An electrician fitting a new light, an installer laying insulation, an aerial engineer, a boiler fitter or a surveyor may all open the hatch, see the grey papery shape and come straight back down. Quite reasonably, they will not carry on until it has been dealt with.
If that happens to you, you are not alone, and it is not a disaster. It is a delay, and with a call to us it can be a short one. The tradesperson's advice to stop work is sound, and the next step is to get the nest treated by someone qualified.
Tradespeople see lofts all the time, so their instincts about wasps are worth heeding. If they say it looks like an active nest, take them at their word. If they say it looks old and dead, still have it checked before restarting work, because dead nests sometimes sit next to live ones.
What to do with the job in hand
The key is to keep things moving without anyone taking risks. Ask the tradesperson what they saw and where, and write it down. Then take these steps:
- Keep the hatch closed and the ladder away from it.
- Tell the whole household not to go into the loft.
- Ask the tradesperson not to attempt to deal with the nest themselves.
- Agree a date to resume once the nest is treated.
- Keep their materials where they are unless they can be removed without going near the nest.
A good tradesperson will understand. Most would rather return a week later than work beside an active colony.
It also pays to check what else the job involves. Some jobs, such as spray-foam insulation, roof repairs or fitting a loft ladder, will bring workers into the exact area where a nest hangs. Others, such as wiring a downlight in a room below, may simply cause vibration. In either case, the colony should be dealt with first.
Booking the treatment
We are open seven days a week, offer same-day service and have evening and weekend appointments, which makes it easier to fit around a building schedule. Treatment is a fixed £120 for each nest, £60 for an additional nest on the same property, and there is no call-out charge. One visit is guaranteed, and the technician is fully insured and qualified.
Call 01622 410 019, or complete the contact page form instead. Tell us where the tradesperson saw the nest, which job is on hold, and the date they want to resume. We cover homes and commercial premises, and the technician works in Snave and nearby villages.
Be clear with the tradesperson about timing. Some will hold your slot; others will move on to another job and come back when they can. Telling them early that you have booked treatment gives them the information to plan, and it keeps the relationship positive.
Giving the technician useful details
Anything the tradesperson noticed is valuable. Did they see the nest directly? Was it high or low, near the hatch or far away? Were wasps flying? Did they hear any sound? Were stored materials or insulation involved?
If the loft is full of building materials, say so. The technician needs to know what is in the way, and what is fragile. If the job was a conversion or structural work, mention any scaffolding or open roof areas. The more precise the information, the smoother the visit.
A photograph is useful if the tradesperson took one from the hatch. Do not ask them to go back for another, and do not go up yourself. Words are enough: a grey papery lump hanging from a rafter near the chimney is something a technician can work with.
Tradespeople who are used to roof spaces often know a good deal about the building: how the loft is laid out, where the eaves are and whether other nests have been seen. Ask them to pass on anything useful to the technician, either on the phone or in a short message.
If the work has a fixed deadline, such as a boiler replacement before winter or a survey for a sale, say so when you call. We cannot promise a particular time, but we offer same-day service where we can, and we will do what we can to fit around your schedule.
Finally, keep the hatch shut and the ladder away. A closed hatch is the best safeguard while the question of who does what is settled.
Restarting the work afterwards
Once the nest has been treated, the technician will tell you when the roof space is safe. Pass that on to the tradesperson. Ask whether the empty nest can be taken down at booking, because some jobs, such as insulation or boarding, are easier if it is gone.
Dead wasps in the loft are best swept up before work resumes, with a vacuum or brush and gloves. Tradespeople may be happy to do it themselves. If there is staining or damage to materials, discuss it with them, as what is replaced depends on the job.
If your property is a rental or a commercial unit, let the landlord or manager know that a nest has been found, since access may need to be arranged and works may be affected.
Who pays for what
Our fee is for the wasp treatment only. Whether the cost falls to you, your landlord, the builder or someone else depends on the contract or tenancy agreement. We cannot advise on that, so check your paperwork. Keep our receipt and make a note of the dates so that any discussion is easy.
For commercial jobs, such as refits and renovations, the same principles apply. Tell the site manager as soon as a nest is found and arrange access for the technician. Do not leave it to chance, as a delayed contractor is expensive.
Wasps on your property in Snave?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.