Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Kirby Muxloe Homes
The boards along the edge of a roof hide a narrow space that suits wasps well, and a nest there can be active for weeks before anyone sees more than a few insects.
The boards at the edge of the roof
Look up at the edge of your roof from the garden. Along the bottom of the slope there is usually a board running horizontally, the fascia, and beneath the overhang a flat panel running back to the wall, the soffit. Gutters hang from the first, and the roof structure rests behind both. Between the boards, the wall and the underside of the tiles lies a hidden channel, often dry, dark and undisturbed.
To a queen wasp in spring, that channel looks like an ideal home. It is sheltered, it is well above the reach of most predators, and it is easy to enter through a corner where two boards meet or a slot where a board has pulled slightly away. Plenty of homes in Kirby Muxloe and in every other part of the country have such a space, and a modern one is no more proof against wasps than an old one.
How wasps get in
The entrances are almost always modest. Look for these when you scan the roof edge from a safe distance.
- A corner joint in the fascia where the two boards no longer meet tightly.
- A gap between the fascia and the wall, widened by weather or by a gutter fixing.
- A soffit vent whose mesh has split or come away.
- A small hole where a cable, pipe or bracket passes through the board.
- The lowest tile edge, where it overhangs the fascia and leaves a slot above it.
Wasps use one or two of these. The nest itself builds up inside the channel, spreading along it, and eventually it can be larger than you would think from the size of the hole.
Small details can help you describe the position to us. Is the entrance at a corner or in the middle of a run of board? Is it above a window, a door or a drainpipe? Does it face the road or the garden? None of this needs a close look. A single glance from the lawn, with the position noted down, is plenty, and it saves the technician time on arrival.
Signs that a nest is behind the boards
Once the colony is established, the signs are quite consistent. You will see wasps entering and leaving the same spot along the roof edge. They may hover below it for a moment before flying in. You may hear a faint rustle or buzzing from the soffit if you stand beneath it, though you should not get close.
Other signs include a grey or brown stain on the board, where the wasps have chewed it, and fine scraps of wood fibre or papery material below the entrance. Occasionally wasps enter the house through a gap at the top of an upstairs wall, so wasps in a bedroom with a window on the same side as the fascia are another useful clue.
Why you should leave the boards alone
The temptation is to prise a board off and look. That is exactly what to avoid. Fascias and soffits are close to the nest, and lifting one can expose it directly, releasing a lot of wasps at once while you stand on a ladder. Boards in poor condition can also be brittle, and a ladder against a gutter is not a stable place to work.
Do not push anything into the gap, tap on the board or attempt to fill it. A blocked entrance sends wasps looking for a new one, which can lead into the loft or a bedroom. The kindest thing you can do for your own safety is to stay on the ground, watch, and note where the traffic goes.
Think also of children and pets. A fascia nest is often above a window, a path or a play area, so use another route into the house until it has been dealt with.
Remember too that roof-edge boards are often painted or covered in uPVC, which hides the damage a nest may be doing from the inside. A nest can swell until the board bows slightly, and the first sign is a strip of board that no longer lies flat. If you notice that, say so when you ring.
After treatment, the board and the gap
When the technician has treated the nest and activity at the roof edge has stopped, you can think about repairs. Ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down. Access behind boards can be awkward, so it depends on the position.
The board or vent that the wasps used will then want attention from a roofer or carpenter. Ask them to close any gap properly, check the rest of the roof edge while they are there, and replace damaged soffit vent mesh. That is how you cut the chance of another queen choosing the same place next spring.
Tenants should look at their tenancy agreement before arranging any repair, and ask the landlord or agent who is responsible.
Booking a visit
We treat roof-edge nests for a fixed £95 each, and a second nest on the same property is £35 more. There is no call-out charge. You will be told the price over the phone before anyone visits, and no work begins until you have agreed to it. Technicians are trained and fully insured, they cover homes and commercial buildings, and the service runs seven days a week with same-day visits available.
Phone 0116 214 9259 or use the form on the contact page at /contact-us/. Tell us which side of the house and which corner of the roof edge the wasps use, and let us know if anyone at home is allergic to wasp stings.
Wasps on your property in Kirby Muxloe?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.