Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Westcliff-on-Sea Homes

A good photograph from a safe distance can make a booking quicker and a visit smoother, but only if you take it without going anywhere near the nest.

Why a photo helps

A technician cannot see your roof over the phone, and a description such as 'near the corner' leaves room for doubt. A clear photograph taken from the ground fills that gap. It shows the shape of the roof, the side of the house and the position of the suspected entrance, which means a better plan for the visit.

It is a useful extra and never a requirement. If you cannot get a good picture without going too close, skip it and describe what you can see in words. No photograph is worth a sting.

A photograph also helps you rather than the technician. Looking at it later, at your leisure, may show you details you missed while watching the real thing: the exact tile the wasps land on, the shape of the gap, or a second entrance a little way along.

Treat it as a record as well. A dated photograph shows how things stood on the day you first noticed the wasps, which is handy if the matter ever needs explaining to a landlord or an agent.

Getting the shot without getting close

The key is distance. Use the zoom on your phone rather than your feet, and stand well back from the wall, preferably on the other side of the garden or the road. Take it on a bright day when you can see the wasps clearly.

• Stand where the whole elevation is in view, so the roofline gives context.
• Take one wide picture, then a zoomed one on the area where the wasps seem to vanish.
• Do not use a flash, and do not tap on the glass of a window to attract attention.
• Keep children and pets indoors while you do it.
• Stop at once if wasps start to head in your direction, and walk calmly away.

Do not take pictures from a ladder, a bin or a garden wall. Do not photograph from a bedroom window directly under the nest, because opening it may let wasps in.

Pick your moment. Early afternoon is usually the best time, because the wasps are active and the light is good. Dull, damp mornings make for poor images and fewer visible wasps. Keep your hand steady, brace your elbow against your side, and take several shots, because wasps are quick.

Describing what the picture shows

Alongside the photograph, a few words make it more useful. Say which side of the house it is, how high up the entrance seems, and whether it is at the edge of the roof, under the tiles or behind a board. If the wasps pass above a door or window, say so.

A tip: compare the position with something familiar, such as a downpipe, a window or a chimney. Saying 'about halfway between the downpipe and the corner, just under the lowest tiles' is far more helpful than a general description. Many people find that this is easier to explain with a picture in front of them.

It may help to mark the photograph on your phone. Many phones let you draw a circle around part of an image, which is a neat way to show exactly where the wasps go in.

If there is more than one place where wasps seem to go in, number them in your description. It is much easier for the technician to plan around 'entrance one, near the corner, and entrance two, about two metres along' than a general remark that there seem to be several.

Videos and counting

Short videos can capture the comings and goings better than a still. Thirty seconds of footage, filmed from a good distance, shows how busy the entrance is and in which direction the wasps travel. You do not need to count them; the technician only needs an impression of whether it is a trickle or a stream.

Avoid recording for long periods standing in the same place. Wasps that spot a person near their route may become more alert.

If you are filming, resist the urge to narrate loudly or move around. Quiet, steady filming is more likely to keep the wasps behaving normally and gives a better picture of the flight line.

Sending the details and booking

When you ring 01245 327274, explain what you have seen and mention that you have a photograph if you do. The business can advise on whether it is needed. The online booking form on the contact page is the other way to arrange the visit, and you can describe the location there.

Each nest is treated for a fixed £90 with one visit guaranteed, and a second one at the same property is £35 extra. It works seven days a week, offers same-day service, covers homes and businesses, and is fully insured. Technicians cover Westcliff-on-Sea and nearby villages. Tell them about any allergy to stings when you book.

If you prefer to book online, the contact page form lets you describe the location in your own words. Give as much detail as you can about the side of the house and the height.

What to keep for afterwards

Hold on to your pictures after the visit. They are handy if a roofer needs to see where the wasps got in, or if you need to describe the position again in future. Afterwards, ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down.

If wasps return to the same spot, a second picture, taken from the same distance, will show whether the entrance is still in use.

Delete any photographs of neighbours' windows or people that you did not intend to take. Pictures of a roof are for the pest visit only, and there is no need to share them more widely than necessary.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Westcliff-on-Sea