Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Stevenage Homes
Treatment is not quite the end of the story. This guide covers what to expect in the days afterwards, when to repair the gap and what to do about stray wasps.
The first hours after treatment
Once the technician has treated a nest under the tiles, most people expect the wasps to vanish at once. The reality is a little more gradual. Treatment starts working at the nest, and the insects that were away foraging when the technician called will continue to return for a short time, so a few wasps around the entrance on the same day is normal.
These returning workers are generally confused rather than aggressive, but they can still sting if you get close. Keep the same distance you kept before the visit, and leave windows near the entrance closed until things have quietened. Children and pets should stay away from that side of the house for the rest of the day.
If you are in Stevenage or the surrounding villages and are ringing around to compare options, it helps to know that a single visit is all that is intended. The price graphic promises one visit, and the fixed price is set up on that basis.
Treatment is carried out at the nest itself, and the technician will usually tell you what to expect on the day. Take notes if that helps, and ask any questions before they leave, such as when it is safe to use the garden again or whether you should keep a particular window shut for a while.
Dead wasps, stragglers and clean-up
It is common to find dead or dying wasps on the ground, on window ledges or, if the nest was close to a room, in a corner of the ceiling. A few things are worth knowing about clearing them up.
- Wait before touching them. A wasp that looks dead can still sting. Use a dustpan and brush, or a thick glove, and do not pick them up with bare fingers.
- Check pets and children. Do not let them play with or eat any wasps they find.
- Sweep, do not hose. Washing wasps down a drain or into a flower bed is not necessary. Bag them and put them in the bin.
- Keep windows shut for a day or two if the entrance is near an opening, in case stragglers wander indoors.
If wasps are still active at the entrance after several days, contact the business again. Do not try to deal with it yourself in the meantime.
It also helps to look for wasps in unusual places over the next few days: inside a curtain, behind a blind, in a bathroom with the window open. Stragglers that have lost their nest tend to wander towards light, and a calm response is the best one. Open the window, step back and give them a chance to leave.
The empty nest and the gap
The nest is made of paper-like material, and once treated it is no longer a living colony. That does not mean it must be removed at once, but it is not something you want to leave indefinitely. Some people simply prefer it gone, and a roofer may want the space clear before repairing the gap.
Whether the physical nest can be taken down depends on where it is and how it was built, so ask the technician when you book. It is far better to raise this at the start than to climb up to look for yourself.
The gap is a separate matter. Wasps need an opening to get in, and the same opening may tempt another queen next spring. Once you have been told the nest has been dealt with, a roofer or builder can repair the tile, soffit or fascia so that the entrance is closed off properly.
Avoid patching it in a hurry with foam or tape. A proper repair lasts longer, and it prevents the opening from being used again.
Leave any scraping, brushing or poking at the area until you have the all-clear. The aim is to avoid disturbing anything that has not finished being dealt with. When the time comes, a tidy repair by a roofer is a much better long-term answer than any quick fix attempted from a ladder.
Checking for signs of a second nest
Occasionally there is more than one nest on the same property, and the second may not be noticed until the first has been dealt with. If wasp traffic continues at a different point of the building, or if you can see the same behaviour at a shed, a hedge or a garden wall, mention it.
For an additional nest on the same property the price is £30 extra. If the technician is still nearby, a quick call may be easier than starting a new booking, but in any case the price is confirmed with you before work begins.
Wasps can build in several spots, and old nests are not reused, so a fresh sighting next year is a new colony and a new job. This is why it is useful to check the roofline for gaps each spring, from the ground, well before wasps start building in earnest around April.
Booking and what to expect on the day
A visit to treat a roof-level nest costs a fixed £70 per nest with no call-out charge, and the price is confirmed on the phone before anyone attends. If special access equipment is needed because the nest is hard to reach, the price might be more, and you will be told first. Nothing happens without your agreement.
You can book through the online booking form or the contact page. The technician for your area receives an alert by SMS and email, seven days a week, and evenings, weekends and same-day appointments are available for homes and businesses. People with a wasp sting allergy in the household should say so at the time, so the booking can be prioritised.
Be ready to point out the entrance from a safe distance, but you do not need to be at the property if the technician can reach the nest without going indoors. Ask when you book.
Wasps on your property in Stevenage?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.