Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Abridge Homes

The loft hatch is where many people are tempted to look for a roof nest, and where a stung householder is least able to get away.

The tempting check

When wasps appear in the house, the loft seems the obvious place to investigate. It is right above the rooms where they are turning up, and it is easy to imagine opening the hatch, shining a torch and seeing what is going on. It is also one of the most common ways for people to get badly stung.

A nest in the roof space may be only a short distance from the hatch. Opening it can flood the area with disturbed wasps, and you will be standing on a ladder, in a confined space, with limited room to retreat.

The temptation is greatest at night, when a single wasp has been seen in the bedroom and you want to put your mind at rest. Resist it. The wasps will still be there in the morning, and you will be in a better position to deal with the situation in daylight and with the technician's help.

Many householders tell us afterwards that they are glad they did not look. Wasps in a roof void can be far more numerous than you expect, and a stung person on a ladder faces a real risk of falling.

What can go wrong

There are several reasons that a loft check is a bad idea.

• The nest may be right beside the hatch, out of sight until you are very close.
• Light and warmth drawn in through the hatch can bring wasps toward you.
• A ladder in a hallway is unstable if you flinch or lose balance.
• Wasps in a loft can pour into the rooms below as soon as the hatch is opened.
• A loft is full of things to trip over and nowhere to run.

Even a quick look, a minute at the top of the stairs, is risky. The safest approach is simply not to go up.

Wasps disturbed in a loft do not always fly straight at you. They may crawl across insulation, gather around the hatch edge or drop into the room below as you climb down. This makes them difficult to see and avoid.

Remember also that wasps respond to carbon dioxide and warmth. A person breathing heavily with excitement or fear near an entrance is an obvious target.

Gathering information without going up

You can learn a great deal from the ground. Step outside and watch the roof edge for a flow of wasps. Note the part of the house above which the activity occurs, and compare it with the room where the wasps are appearing indoors.

Inside, note which rooms see wasps and when. Listen quietly from a distance for a buzzing or rustling. This is enough to tell the technician where to start. A good description is worth more than a quick look into the dark.

If you have noticed brown stains on a ceiling or a faint smell in a room, mention that to the technician. It is a detail, not a diagnosis, but it can help to pinpoint the area.

Write down what you see and hear, then keep that note somewhere easy to find for when you ring. It is easier to describe the problem accurately when it is written down.

Keeping the hatch and the house safe

Keep the hatch closed. If wasps are coming through gaps around it, place a rolled towel or draught excluder across any visible gap from a safe position, without leaning over it. Keep the doors of rooms below shut, and use a different part of the house if you can.

Never block the hatch with filler or tape in an attempt to seal in the wasps. They need somewhere to go, and blocked wasps find new routes. Tell the technician about anything you have noticed, including the exact location of the hatch.

Keep children and pets out of the hallway or landing beneath the hatch, in case anything falls or flies through any gap.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner or a spray in the loft. Neither is a safe or effective way to deal with a nest, and both involve going where you should not.

Booking and the price

A fixed fee of £90 covers each nest treated with one visit guaranteed. Should a different nest be found at the same address, the price for that one is £35 extra. The price is the same for any part of the roof.

Wasp Nest Removal Essex is open seven days a week, offers same-day service, covers homes and commercial buildings and is fully insured. You can book by ringing 01245 327274 or complete the contact page booking form. The technician covers Abridge and the surrounding villages. Mention any allergy to stings when booking so that it can be prioritised.

A quick call is the sensible next step. The business will tell you what to do and arrange a visit.

What the technician will do

The technician will want to know where the wasps are entering and where they are appearing indoors. They will then deal with the nest from the safest position, which may be from the outside at roof level. You do not need to open the loft, clear a path or provide a ladder.

Afterwards, you can ask whether the empty nest can be taken down. Once the wasps are gone, the loft can be checked by a builder or roofer if you want to understand how they got in. Do not do this yourself until the technician says the area is clear.

The loft can be a perfectly good place to store things once the nest has been dealt with. Give it a few days to settle first.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Abridge