Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Breaston Homes
A wasp nest at roof level is easier to live with when the household has a plan, particularly if someone has a sting allergy or there are young children and pets.
Living with a nest for a few days
Even a quick booking can leave a gap of hours or days between spotting a nest and having it treated. In that time you still have to use the back door, hang out the washing and let the dog out. For a household with a nest above the eaves, a little planning makes those days a good deal calmer.
The basic principle is simple. Wasps defend their nest, not the whole garden. Leave the nest alone and the wasps will mostly leave you alone. The aim is to keep people and pets out of the zone around the entrance and to keep wasps from finding a way indoors.
If someone is allergic to wasp stings
Tell us when you book. Anyone in your home, or a family member who visits regularly, who is allergic to wasp stings is an important detail, and we will take it into account when arranging the visit. We cannot promise a particular response time, but we can make sure the technician knows.
In the meantime, general safety applies. People with known allergies should speak to their GP about what to do, and that conversation is best had before an incident rather than after. If a sting is followed by swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheeze or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999 straight away.
Where there is a known allergy, it is sensible to avoid the affected side of the house altogether until the nest is dealt with, and to keep windows closed near it.
Children and pets
Children are naturally curious about insects, and a stream of wasps at one spot is irresistible to watch. Explain in simple terms that the wasps are protecting their home and that nobody should go near it, throw things at it or poke it with a stick. Keep paddling pools, sandpits and play equipment away from the wall below the nest, and use another door if the nest is above the usual one.
Dogs and cats can be just as inquisitive. Keep them in when you can, and keep them off the part of the garden beneath the eaves. A pet that is stung on the face or mouth should be seen by a vet, so do not wait to see what happens.
Keeping wasps out of the house
Roof nests have a habit of sending the odd wasp indoors through gaps near the roofline. Reduce the chance with a few small measures.
- Keep windows near the nest closed during the day, or fit insect screens.
- Close the doors of upstairs rooms on the affected side of the house.
- Cover food and drinks, and clear sugary spills quickly.
- Check that bin lids close properly and keep bins away from the wall.
- If a wasp does come indoors, open a window wide and leave the room rather than swatting.
Do not block the entrance to the nest. People in Breaston and anywhere else who do so often find wasps emerging inside the house instead.
First aid, and planning the routine
Most stings are painful but harmless. Move away from the area, wash the sting with soap and water, remove the sting if it is visible, and apply a cold pack or a cold wet cloth to reduce swelling. Keep an eye on the person for a short while afterwards. Anyone who feels unwell, or who has had a reaction before, should get medical advice.
Do not scratch the area, and do not try to treat a sting inside the nest zone. Walk away first.
A nest over the back door changes how you use a house for a few days. Think through the routine rather than hoping for the best. Where do the children go in and out? When does the dog go out? Where is the washing line, and the bins?
Choose a different route in and out if the nest sits above the usual door, and put the bins on the far side of the garden. Hang washing elsewhere, or dry it indoors for a day or two. Wasps are attracted to sweet or sticky residue, so rinse cans, bottles and cups before they go in the recycling.
If you are having people over, such as a barbecue or a children's party, consider moving it. Food outdoors draws wasps from the whole neighbourhood, nest or no nest, and a party under a busy flight path is nobody's idea of fun.
For households in Breaston or elsewhere with elderly relatives, check that they know about the nest and which door to avoid. People who are slower to move away from a wasp are more likely to be stung, and it is a simple conversation to have.
Lastly, make sure everyone in the household knows the rule: leave it alone, do not swat, and tell an adult if wasps are seen indoors. The nest will be dealt with, and a calm approach in the meantime keeps everyone out of trouble.
Arranging the treatment
Treatment of a wasp nest costs a fixed £95 and an additional nest on the same property costs £35 extra, and there is no call-out charge in either case. We confirm the figure on the phone before the visit and do nothing without your agreement. Our technicians are trained and fully insured, we cover homes and commercial premises, and we are open seven days a week, with same-day service available.
To book, phone 0116 214 9259 or fill in the form on the contact page at /contact-us/. Once treated, ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, and then have the gap repaired by a roofer.
Wasps on your property in Breaston?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.