Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Carrington Homes
Reaching a roof nest means working at height next to thousands of defensive insects, which is why this is one job where waiting for a trained technician is the sensible choice.
Two hazards at the same time
Wasp nests under roof tiles combine the two things most likely to hurt a householder: a fall and a swarm. Either would be bad enough alone. Together they are much worse, because a stung person on a ladder reacts instinctively, and the reaction is rarely a controlled one. People flinch, grab at their face and lose their grip within a second or two.
Homeowners in Carrington, a suburb of Nottingham, are no different from anyone else here. The roof edge of a typical house is out of comfortable reach from the ground, so any attempt to deal with the nest means stretching, leaning or climbing, often with one hand occupied. That is a poor position from which to confront a colony that may contain thousands of wasps.
What goes wrong on the ladder
The practical problems are easy to list, and they stack up quickly.
- The entrance is usually right at the roof edge, so your head and hands are level with the wasps.
- Guard wasps respond to vibration, and a ladder resting against guttering or fascia board transmits every movement to the nest area.
- You cannot see what is behind the tile or board, so you cannot judge how large or active the colony is.
- Retreating means climbing down backwards, while wasps follow.
- Gutters, fascias and old tiles can be brittle and may not take your weight or the ladder’s pressure.
None of this requires bad luck. It follows from the way the nest is built into the structure of the roof.
Why the ground is the right place for you to be
You can still do useful things from the ground. Look along the roofline from a good distance and see where the wasps are entering. Make a note of the side of the house and the nearest window or downpipe. Take a photo with the zoom if you want to show us. That is all the preparation a technician needs.
Beyond that, restrain the urge to investigate. Do not tap the area, hose it, shake the guttering or throw anything at the tiles. Disturbing a nest causes wasps to pour out defensively, and some will find their way into the loft or the rooms below through the same gaps they use to travel.
Keeping everyone out of the way
While you are waiting for the visit, treat the affected side of the building as out of bounds. Keep children and pets away from that part of the garden and from any washing line or seating that sits below the flight path. Close windows near the roofline during the warmest part of the day. If wasps are getting indoors, shut the door of the room concerned rather than trying to swat them.
If someone has already been stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash all mean you should call 999 at once. People who know they are allergic should speak to their GP about it.
How we deal with a roof nest
Wasp Exterminator Nottinghamshire treats roof nests for a fixed £95 per nest, with a second nest at the same property at £35 each. You pay no call-out charge, and the price is agreed with you on the phone before anyone attends. Nothing goes ahead without your agreement. The technicians are trained, the work is fully insured, and we can often offer a same-day visit, seven days a week, to both domestic and commercial customers.
To book, call 0115 937 5117 or use the form on the contact page. Tell us where you saw the wasps, and if anyone in the family is allergic, mention it at that point. Afterwards you can ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down. A roofer can then check the tiles and fix the gap, once the nest has been dealt with.
Signs that the nest is growing
You do not need to climb up to judge how active a roof nest has become. Watching from the ground over a few days tells you a good deal. In the early weeks you may see only a few wasps coming and going. Later in the summer, the traffic becomes dense, and wasps may be seen hovering near the entrance as though guarding it. A colony at that stage is more easily provoked, which is another reason to keep away from the roofline.
Other changes follow. More wasps turn up around bins, fruit and outdoor tables as the colony needs more food. You may notice them on the glass of upstairs windows, or hear a low buzzing in a bedroom ceiling. None of these needs to alarm you, but all of them are good reasons to book the visit and not wait for the problem to ease off.
Remember also that the season runs a long time. Nests begin in late April or later depending on the spring, and they usually reach their peak in August, with thousands of wasps in one colony. Dealing with a nest earlier in its life is simpler for everyone, though a large nest costs exactly the same fixed price, £95 per nest, as a small one.
If you are unsure whether what you have found is a wasp nest, describe what you see on the phone. We treat wasps, not bees. If your insects turn out to be honeybees or bumblebees, a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation is the right contact.
A final tip is to keep a record. Jot down the date you first noticed the wasps and the spot they use. It helps when you describe the problem on the phone, and it reminds you to arrange the roof repair once the nest has been dealt with, which is easily forgotten once the wasps are gone and the summer moves on.
Wasps on your property in Carrington?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.