Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Melton Mowbray Homes
For a business, a roof nest is more than a nuisance, because customers and staff pass beneath it every day; here is how to manage the risk until it is treated.
A different kind of problem
For a household, a wasp nest under the tiles is an inconvenience. For a business it can be a problem of reputation as well as safety. Customers do not want to walk beneath a stream of wasps to reach your door. Staff may refuse to work near the affected area. Tables in a beer garden or goods on display outside begin to attract wasps for no obvious reason.
Melton Mowbray is a Leicestershire market town, and plenty of the buildings in a town like this are shops, offices and hospitality premises with rooflines at the front, over the entrance, where people pass underneath. That makes a nest there more noticeable and more urgent than one at the back of a house.
Protect people first
Before anything else, make the area safe. You do not need to close the business, but you should take sensible steps to keep people away from the part of the building where wasps are active.
- Route customers and deliveries away from the entrance directly below the flight path where you can.
- Put a cone or sign to keep people from lingering underneath the nest.
- Keep food, drink waste and bins covered and away from that side of the building.
- Tell staff clearly not to disturb the nest, swat at wasps near it or climb up to look.
- Keep a note of anyone who has been stung and what happened.
None of this requires touching the nest. It simply lowers the chance of a stung customer in the days before the visit.
Why not to improvise, and what we need to know
Premises often have a ladder, a maintenance person and a pressing wish to solve the problem quickly. It is wise to hold back. A nest at roof level is a risk at height, and a swarming colony near a public doorway is not something to test with a bucket and a ladder. Blocking the gap is also unwise, since wasps shut in will look for another exit, which could be into your stockroom or office.
Leave the opening alone, restrict access and call a trained technician. Insurance and health and safety arrangements differ between businesses, so check your own policy and procedures rather than assuming.
To plan the visit, tell us the address, which side of the building the wasps are using, and whether the nest appears to be over a doorway, a yard, or a shop front. Mention opening hours and who can give access, and whether a manager or landlord must approve the work. If any staff or regular visitors have a known sting allergy, tell us when you book so we can take it into account.
We work with domestic and commercial properties alike, and the technicians are trained and fully insured. The visit can be agreed with whoever is responsible for the building.
After the treatment
When the nest has been treated, wasp activity around the entrance fades. You can then ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, and you should ask a roofer or builder to repair the gap, so a new queen cannot use it next spring.
It is also worth walking round the rest of the premises once the season starts, from late April, and noting gaps in eaves, fascias and roof edges. Spotting an early nest is easier than coping with a large one in August.
What staff and customers should be told
Clear, calm communication matters more than people expect. A member of staff who has been stung, or a customer who has been chased by wasps, will want to know that something is being done. Staff who have not been told anything may either panic or ignore the risk.
Brief your team in a few plain sentences: where the nest is, that it must not be disturbed, which door to use, and who to tell if wasps come inside. Keep the message factual. A short sign on the affected door, such as asking people to use the other entrance, is usually enough for customers without alarming them.
Pay attention to anyone likely to be vulnerable. Children, people with known allergies to wasp stings and staff who work outdoors are the most exposed. Someone with a known allergy should speak to their GP about what to do, and anyone who develops swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheeze or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash after a sting needs 999.
For ordinary stings, wash the area, remove the sting if it can be seen and apply a cold pack. Keep a first aid kit within reach of the affected area.
If your premises have outdoor seating, remember that wasps are drawn to sweet drinks and food waste. Clear plates promptly, cover bins and bring in open drinks bottles until the nest has been treated. That reduces the number of wasps at the tables, though it does not remove the nest.
If a customer is stung on your premises, offer first aid, note what happened and keep it simple and factual. Records of this kind are useful for your own files, and they show that you took the risk seriously once you knew about it.
Booking for a business
A wasp nest is treated for a fixed £95 and £35 for an additional nest on the same property, whether the building is a home or a business. There is no call-out charge. We confirm the price over the phone before the visit and do nothing without your agreement. We are open seven days a week, with same-day service available.
Call 0116 214 9259 or use the online form at /contact-us/.
Wasps on your property in Melton Mowbray?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.