Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Limbury Homes
A roof nest above a shop front, office or workshop affects staff and customers as well as the building. Here is how a business can respond sensibly and quickly.
When the roof belongs to a business
A wasp nest at a family home is a household problem. At a shop, café, office or workshop, it becomes a matter for staff, customers, deliveries and the reputation of the business. People walking under an entrance are unaware of what lies above, and a nest that would simply be an irritation at home can turn into a daily worry at work.
The same biology applies. A colony begins in a gap under the tiles, the eaves or the fascia, grows through the summer and peaks in August, when it can hold as many as 2,000 wasps. In a busy building, that growth coincides with the time of year when the premises are likely to have doors propped open and customers outside, so the contact between people and wasps rises.
Wasp Exterminator Hertfordshire treats both domestic and commercial properties, and for a business in Limbury the approach is similar to that for a home, with some added attention to who passes below.
It is also worth remembering that a wasp does not know the difference between your staff entrance and your customer entrance. It simply responds to threats, so the best protection for everyone is to reduce the chance of anyone coming into contact with the nest or the flight path.
First steps for a manager or owner
The priority is to reduce the chance of anyone being stung while the arrangements are made. The following are sensible actions that do not involve going anywhere near the nest.
- Identify the entrance from a safe distance and note which part of the building it is on.
- Divert foot traffic away from the area directly below, using a cone, a barrier or a sign if that is practical.
- Keep doors and windows closed on that side while wasps are active.
- Tell staff what is happening and where, so no one walks into the flight path unaware.
- Cover food and waste in the area, particularly sweet items, as they attract wasps.
Keep notices short and factual. A line saying wasp nest above, please use the other entrance is enough, with no need to alarm anyone.
Appoint one person to be the point of contact. Wasps are the sort of problem where several people try to help at once, with conflicting ideas, and one of them inevitably decides to try a spray. A single calm person who watches the entrance and makes the call is much more effective.
Why larger and flat roofs need care
Commercial buildings often have roofs that are hard to reach: tall frontages, parapets, roof terraces or edges above shop windows and canopies. A nest in one of these places is not a job for a staff member with a stepladder, and certainly not for a spray from the pavement.
Working at height has its own risks, and doing it near a defended nest multiplies them. Falls from ladders and roofs are a serious cause of injury, and a business has an additional reason to avoid them, because accidents involving staff or passers-by bring a lot of trouble. What the rules require of your business in these situations is something to check with your insurer or adviser, as this guide cannot cover it.
Special access equipment may sometimes be needed to reach the nest. If so, the price might be more than the usual fixed figure, and you will be told before any work begins.
Premises with outdoor seating, delivery bays or smoking shelters beneath the roofline need particular thought, because people linger there for longer. Moving chairs and tables to the far side of the building for a few days is a small inconvenience compared with a customer being stung.
Keeping the business running
Few businesses can close for a day because of a wasp nest, so scheduling matters. The service is open seven days a week and offers same-day, evening and weekend appointments, which makes it easier to arrange treatment outside trading hours. A quiet early morning or a closed Sunday can be ideal, when there are no customers about and the wasps are less active.
When you book, tell the booking line when the premises are open, who will be there to meet the technician and whether the approach to the nest crosses a public area. If the premises are in a shared unit or a managed parade, the landlord or managing agent may need to know. Whether they must consent is a question for the lease, so check it.
After treatment, a few stragglers may remain near the entrance for a short time, so keep the cordon or notice in place for the rest of the day.
If the nest is on a roof shared with neighbouring units, let the neighbours know as soon as possible. The colony will not respect the boundary, and their staff are as exposed as yours.
Price and booking
The charge is a fixed £70 per nest, with £30 for each additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge. The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, and no work starts until you have agreed. For a nest that needs special access equipment, the price might be more, and you will be told first.
You can ring 07852 111 437 or use the online booking form or the contact page. The technician in your area is alerted by SMS and email at any time of the week. The technicians are fully insured and qualified, and the work is safe and effective.
If any member of staff or regular visitor is allergic to wasp stings, say so when you book so the booking can be prioritised. Once the nest is treated, ask whether the empty nest can be taken down, and leave any roof repairs until you have been told the area is safe.
Wasps on your property in Limbury?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.