Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Stourmouth Gardens
Roof tiles are laid to keep rain out, not insects, and the small gaps beneath them can be the doorway to a quiet space under the roof.
The roof covering as an entrance
A tiled roof is a series of overlapping pieces, each resting on the one below. Where tiles meet the ridge at the top, the verge at the side, or the wall at an abutment, there are joints filled with mortar or fixed with clips. Over time, mortar cracks, tiles slip and small openings appear.
A queen does not need much. A gap beneath a tile leads into the roof void, and from there she can find a spot between the underside of the tiles and the felt. The result is a nest above the ceiling, with no obvious sign from inside.
If the nest was there last year, it was built for a single season and has not been used since the autumn. Another queen may well find the same gap.
The problem is rarely one big hole. It is more often a series of small gaps, any of which could serve a queen. Because they are small, they are easy to overlook, and because they are high up, nobody looks at them closely for years.
What can be seen from the ground
You should not climb on a roof to check it. From the ground, with a pair of binoculars, you can see more than you think.
- Tiles that are slipped, cracked or missing
- Mortar missing along the ridge or at the verge
- Gaps where the roof meets a chimney or party wall
- Birds or insects entering at a particular point
- Moss or debris that has built up in a valley
Look on a bright day, when the sun picks out the details, and walk around the full circuit of the house.
The area around a dormer, a rooflight or a satellite dish bracket is another place to look. Anything that was added to the roof after it was built involves a penetration, and the seal around it can deteriorate.
Lean-to roofs and porches have exposed ends that are easy to see from the ground, and bargeboards and verges at the gable are among the first places to show wear. If you spot a gap, take a photograph before you do anything else, so you can show it to a roofer.
Why speed matters in spring
A small nest under the tiles is easy to overlook because it makes little sound for weeks. A few wasps coming and going at the same point on the roof is often the first sign, and the traffic is easiest to see on a warm morning.
By the time wasps start appearing in the house, the colony is well established. For that reason, a spring check from the ground is a better investment than a repair done once wasps have arrived.
If there is a nest, wait for treatment before any roofing work is done, since disturbing the structure will upset the colony.
Ask neighbours if they have noticed anything similar, since wasps in an attached property can use the same roof void. A word over the fence in spring is cheap and useful.
You may find it useful to compare the roof from year to year. A photograph from the same spot each winter makes changes obvious, and a new gap stands out at once.
Repairs belong to a roofer
Re-bedding a ridge, replacing a slipped tile or renewing mortar at a verge is work for a competent roofer. It involves working at height, and the right materials and methods matter.
Ask the roofer to check for gaps while they are there, and to deal with any that could allow wasps in. Winter is a good time because there are no wasps in the roof and the roofer can work without the risk of a sting. Be careful to ask for quotes in writing, and do not hire anyone who cannot explain what they plan to do.
Choose a roofer who will explain the work. A good one will point out gaps and weak points on the roof and tell you what they would do about each of them.
Verges and ridge tiles are held with mortar, which weathers faster than the tiles themselves. A roofer can often re-bed them in a day, and it is one of the cheaper ways to improve the roof as a whole.
What to do if wasps appear indoors
If wasps appear in an upstairs room, or around a light fitting, keep the door closed and the family out of the room. Do not try to look in the loft. The nest may be only a short way above.
Note where wasps are coming from, and what time of day they are most active. That helps the technician to find the likely entry point on the roof.
Take a torch to the loft hatch only if you are sure of the safety of the area, and do not go up if wasps are moving about near the ceiling.
Avoid blocking any ventilation that the roof needs. A roof void that cannot breathe can suffer from condensation, which creates its own problems, so any repair should be done by someone who understands this.
Booking for roof nests
A nest under the tiles or in the roof void costs a fixed £120 per nest to treat. An additional nest on the same property is £60 extra, and there is no call-out charge. The person who attends is a fully insured and qualified technician, and each job comes with one visit guaranteed.
To book, ring 01622 410 019, or book through the form at /contact-us/. We work in Stourmouth and the surrounding villages seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments. Please say at booking if someone at home has a sting allergy.
If you can tell us which side of the house the wasps seem to use, it helps us to plan the visit and the equipment needed.
Wasps on your property in Stourmouth?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.