EXCELLENT
Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Doncaster Homes
A roof that is about to be worked on is exactly when a hidden nest gets disturbed, so a quick check beforehand can save a painful surprise.
Why roof work and wasp nests collide
Builders, roofers, window fitters and gutter cleaners all spend time at roof level, which is where wasps like to nest. A hidden nest under tiles, behind a fascia or in the eaves may be completely silent until somebody lifts a tile, pulls off a board or leans a ladder against it. Then a defensive colony pours out.
The usual pattern is that a job begins in spring or summer, someone finds a nest in the course of the work and everything stops. Tradespeople rarely carry out nest treatments as part of the job. They step back, and the homeowner has to arrange something quickly. That is a poor start to a project that was supposed to be tidy.
Even small jobs carry the risk. Pointing the ridge, replacing a few tiles, fitting a new fascia or fixing a vent all take someone close to the places wasps like best, and a ladder against a wall can be enough to set off a defensive response.
Before the job starts
If you are planning work on your roof between April and October, a little advance checking pays off.
- Walk round the house on a dry afternoon, well back from the walls, and watch the roofline for ten minutes.
- Look for a steady line of wasps entering a gap at the tiles, eaves or fascia.
- Tell the contractor if you have noticed any wasp activity, even if you are not sure.
- Ask them to look for signs as part of their first inspection.
- If there is a nest, arrange treatment before the work begins, not after.
A good contractor will be glad to hear it. Nobody wants a nest uncovered halfway through a job, and it is easy to build a day for treatment into the schedule.
If the work is booked well in advance, it is worth a second look just before the start date. A nest founded in April can be a lively colony by the time a June start comes round.
It also helps to agree with the contractor, in advance, what happens if a nest is found, so that everyone knows who stops work and who calls the technician.
If a nest turns up mid-job
If workers find a nest while on the roof or on scaffolding, the safest course is to stop, move away calmly and let the wasps settle. Dropping tools and rushing down a ladder in a panic are how people get hurt.
- Everyone should leave the area around the nest, including anyone on the ground below.
- Do not try to spray, knock down or cover the nest.
- Keep the household indoors with the windows nearest the roof closed.
- Make a note of exactly where the nest is and what has been disturbed.
- Book treatment, then agree with the contractor when work can resume.
Scaffolding can complicate things. Wasps may use boards and poles, and their flight path may pass close to people. The technician will take this into account, and may even find the scaffolding useful for access.
If anyone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and apply a cold pack. Call 999 if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
Tell the household too, since children coming home from school or visitors arriving at the door may walk into the flight path without realising.
Who does what, and what it costs
Treating the nest is a separate job from the roofing, and it is normally the homeowner who arranges it, though that depends on your contract with the contractor. Check the terms or ask them. The treatment is a fixed £70 per nest, with a second nest on the same property £25 extra and no call-out charge. The figure is agreed over the phone ahead of the visit.
Where scaffolding or an existing platform helps with access, say so when you ring, because it may affect whether special equipment is needed. If special access equipment is required for a hard-to-reach nest, the price might be higher, and you would be told in advance and free to refuse.
Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and visits run seven days a week with same-day service offered, which keeps delay to the building work to a minimum.
It is sensible to put the arrangement in writing, even if it is only a text message. That way everyone knows who is booking the treatment and who is waiting for it before resuming work.
Booking in Doncaster and getting back to work
For Doncaster and the surrounding area, use the online booking form or the contact page, or phone 07798 792 774. The technician for your area is alerted by SMS and email, whatever the day. Domestic and commercial customers are both covered.
Once the nest is treated, wait until no wasps have been seen for a couple of days before the contractor goes back near the area. Ask about the empty nest if you want it taken down, and let the roofer know where the entrance was, so they can seal it properly as part of the work. That turns a nasty surprise into a useful repair.
It is also a good idea to ask for a quick check of the rest of the roofline while the contractor is there. Other gaps may be found, and they can be closed in the same visit.
Wasp treatment does not take long, so the delay to a roofing job is usually short. The key is to catch the problem before the contractor has stripped any tiles, because an open roof is a much harder place to treat.
Wasps on your property in Doncaster?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.