Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself? Advice for Pentlow Homeowners

A conservatory is warm, bright and full of small gaps, and a wasp nest in its frame or roof is difficult to reach and uncomfortable to share.

Why these structures appeal

Conservatories and porches are built from many pieces: frames, glazing bars, roof panels, fascia trims, cills. Where the pieces meet there are small gaps, and behind them cavities. Add the warmth of the sun on glass and you have a very comfortable place to start a colony.

Often the first sign is wasps inside the room, tapping against the glass. Others appear at the roof edge or along the join with the main house. Because the structure is partly transparent, you may even see wasps moving inside a gap, which is unsettling.

Many conservatories are used as extra living space, with sofas, dining tables or a child’s play corner. A wasp nest affects all of these uses, and the sooner it is treated the sooner the room returns to normal.

Wasps trapped in glass rooms

A room with a glass roof can become a trap. Wasps fly towards the light and cannot find a way out, so they gather at the highest panes. The number can grow through the day as more come in from a nest above or behind.

Resist the urge to spray them or to open every window. Opening one window on the side furthest from the nest may let a few leave, but a continuing stream means a nest is connected. Close the door to the room and keep it shut.

• Avoid swatting wasps at the glass.
• Do not stand on furniture to reach the roof.
• Keep children and pets out of the room without delay.

If you have blinds, close them on the sunny side. Wasps are drawn to the brightest area of the room, and darkening one side may help trapped insects move towards an open window. Do this from a distance and without sudden movements.

Condensation and heat in a closed conservatory also make wasps lethargic, and a sleepy wasp underfoot is easily trodden on and just as easily provoked. Wear shoes and keep the floor clear of towels and bags.

Roof and frame work is risky

Reaching a conservatory roof is a ladder job on a surface that may not bear weight. Glass and polycarbonate panels break, and a fall through one is a serious hazard. People who climb up to look at a nest on the roof are at risk of a double injury: stings and a fall.

Trying to prise out trims or seals to find the nest is similarly unwise. You can damage the structure, create new gaps and release wasps into the room. In Pentlow as everywhere, leave the frame and trims as they are.

Do not forget the base of the conservatory either. Gaps between the base wall, cills and the ground can hold ground-level nests, and wasps may appear at floor height as well as in the roof.

Porches and door frames

Porches add a close, shaded corner right by the front door. A nest under a porch roof or within its frame means every visitor, delivery driver and family member passes it. Look at the upper corners and the underside of the roof.

If the nest is by the front door, use another entrance and put a note on the door for callers. Tell the postal service or couriers if you can, so that they leave things in a safe spot.

Do not use the doorbell or knocker repeatedly if the nest is directly overhead; vibration carries.

Doormats, boots and umbrellas left in a porch can hold sleeping or hiding wasps in late summer, so shake nothing out near the nest and wear shoes when you go through.

What to tell the technician

Note whether the room is used often, whether the nest seems to be inside the frame or on the roof, and where the wasps are entering. Mention if wasps are indoors, and which windows they gather at. A photograph from the garden helps.

If anyone in the household is allergic to stings, say so at once so the booking can be prioritised. For swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, dial 999.

If you have a dog or cat that enjoys the conservatory, shut them out of it for now. Animals sunbathe near glass and may paw at wasps on the pane, which is a quick way to be stung. A temporary baby gate or a closed door is an easy fix.

Plants in conservatories draw wasps too, so move sweet-smelling blooms away from the door if you can do so safely.

Booking

The fee for dealing with a nest is a fixed £90 per nest and the price graphic carries a one visit guaranteed promise. A second nest found at the same property is charged at £35 whatever the time of day. The work is fully insured whether the property is a house or a business. Bookings are taken seven days a week with same-day service on offer.

You can reach the team on 01245 327274, or use the online booking form on the contact page whichever you like. Also, if anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, say so when you book so the booking can be prioritised. Importantly, it is worth asking whether the empty nest can be taken down once the treatment is done.

Mention the construction of the room, for example a glass roof or uPVC frame, and say how you would normally reach the roof. If a ladder is needed on a lawn or patio, a flat surface helps. Let the team know of any fragile panels so the technician takes extra care.

Afterwards, ask whether any gaps in the frame ought to be sealed by a builder, and when it is safe to use the room again.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Pentlow