Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Twyford? Here's What to Do
A single nest does not always mean a single problem, so it is worth looking over the whole property before and after the technician’s visit.
One nest or several
When a householder finds a nest in the loft, the instinct is to treat it as the whole story. Often it is. But a property can offer several attractive spots, and queens that start in spring may choose more than one: the loft, a shed, a garage roof, a hollow in the lawn or a gap in the wall. Each nest is its own colony.
The question is how to check without putting yourself at risk. You do not need to search every corner. You need to look at the places where wasps could come and go, and to do so calmly and from a distance.
If you are in Twyford and have already found one nest, the checks below take about half an hour on a quiet afternoon.
It also helps to think about why the property attracted a queen in the first place. If there is a gap in the roof edge or a loose board on a shed, other spots on the same property may be just as inviting.
A walk round the outside
Start at ground level and work upwards, noting any place where wasps are entering or leaving.
- Roof edges, fascia boards and soffits on every side of the house, not only the side with the first nest.
- Garage and outbuilding eaves, plus the roof of any shed or lean-to.
- Holes in lawns, banks and flower beds where wasps appear to be diving into the ground.
- Trees, hedges and dense bushes where a ball of grey paper might hang.
- Wall vents, air bricks and chimney stacks.
Look for traffic rather than the nest itself. Two separate lines of wasps going in different directions suggest two colonies. Stay a good distance away, and keep children and pets back from anything you find.
Watch for ten minutes at each location, preferably in the warm part of the day when wasps are busiest. A short, patient look tells you much more than a quick glance.
If a neighbour's boundary is nearby, do not go onto their land to look; mention it to them instead.
Signs of a second nest inside
Inside the house, the clues are the same as for any nest, only elsewhere. A hum from a different ceiling, wasps in a second room, or a patch of damp-looking plaster in another part of the house might all mean a second colony.
- Walk through each upstairs room and listen for a few moments.
- Look at windowsills for dead or struggling wasps.
- Check around the edges of any other hatch, such as a roof access over a landing or an extension.
- Note anything that differs from the first nest, such as the time of day it is loudest.
Do not open the hatches to look. Listening and watching are enough to tell a technician what to expect.
If you have an extension, conservatory or porch with its own roof space, give that the same attention as the main house. Smaller roof voids are used just as readily.
How the price works for more than one
The first nest is a fixed £95 per nest. Each further nest on the same property is £35 extra. Both figures are confirmed on the phone before the technician comes, and nothing is done until you have agreed. There is no call-out charge, so there is no extra cost for the visit itself.
That means a house with a loft nest and a shed nest is dealt with in the same visit at the combined price, and you know it in advance. It is worth mentioning any other suspected nests when you ring so that the technician can plan for them.
Same-day service is offered, we are open seven days a week, and both homes and commercial premises are covered. Our technician is trained, and the work is insured in full. Allergic household members should be mentioned at booking.
Remember that the cost of each is confirmed before the visit, so there is nothing to work out afterwards.
Preparing for a visit with more than one nest
If you suspect two nests, it pays to make a short list before you ring.
- Where each nest is, or where the wasps are going to and from.
- How each place is reached, such as a loft hatch, a ladder against a wall or a garden gate.
- Whether any location is shared with a neighbour.
- Anyone in the household with a sting allergy.
With that list, the technician can arrive with a clear idea of the job. For outbuildings, make sure they are unlocked on the day. Keep pets and children well away from every site until the visit is complete.
Keep note of any wasp activity near the first nest site too. Returning workers near the old entrance for a short time are normal, but a lasting stream of insects suggests another colony.
Afterwards, and watching for latecomers
After treatment, keep an eye on the property for a couple of weeks. A queen may have started a nest in a spot you had not checked, and a new colony can be noticed more easily when you know what to watch for. Wasps start building from late April depending on the spring, and colonies peak in August, so late summer is when hidden nests become obvious.
If you see wasps again, note where they are going and call. Do not assume the first treatment missed anything; it is more likely to be another nest, which is £35 on the same property.
To get a visit arranged, phone 0116 214 9259 or use the online booking form on the contact page. We cover Twyford and the nearby villages.
A second look in midsummer, from the garden and the landing, takes ten minutes and gives you the earliest warning.
Wasps on your property in Twyford?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.