Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Little Owston Homes

The house roof gets all the attention, but garages, outbuildings and workplace roofs suit wasps just as well and are often checked far less.

The roofs nobody looks at

When people think of a roof nest, they picture the main roof of the house. In practice, wasps use whatever shelter is available, and the secondary buildings on a property are often more attractive. A garage, a shed, a lean-to, a workshop or a storage unit is dry, quiet and visited only occasionally, which is exactly what a queen wants in spring.

These structures also tend to be less well maintained than a home. A garage roof may have gaps at the eaves or under the edge of sheeting that nobody has looked at for years. A storage building at the back of the plot might be opened once a month. There is plenty of time for a colony to move in and grow without being noticed.

A single-skin roof or one made of sheeting can seem like an unlikely home, but the gaps where sheets overlap and where the roof meets the wall are enough for a queen to slip in.

Signs on outbuildings and work premises

Because these buildings are less used, the signs are often found by accident. Look for:

• Wasps flying to and from a gap in the roof edge, the fascia or the wall plate.
• A faint papery sound inside the garage or shed when it is quiet.
• Wasps gathering at the window or the inside of the door.
• Grey-brown fragments of paper or fibre on the floor or on stored items.
• Wasps at the bins or around a staff break area at a workplace.

Take care when going into a building you suspect. Open the door slowly, look before you step in and leave at once if you hear a loud hum or see wasps gathering. Do not use the building until the nest has been dealt with.

If you are checking a building you use every day, look at the roofline from outside as you come and go. A few seconds’ attention in April and May can pick up the early signs.

Remember that a nest may sit behind a stack of stock or equipment, so the first sign is sometimes a wasp coming out from behind a pile of boxes rather than from the roof.

Equipment, vehicles and stored items

One of the practical headaches with outbuildings is that they are full of things. Cars, tools, bikes, boxes and machinery are all in the way of wasps and of whoever has to reach the nest. Do not rush in to move them. A stack of boxes beside a nest is a sting waiting to happen.

If you must get something out, such as a car, think about the risk. Wasps are generally less active in the early morning and at dusk, but a colony disturbed by engine noise and vibration will still defend itself. It is better to postpone the journey if you can.

For work premises, think about the people who use the building. Stop staff or customers from entering the affected room, put up a clear notice and arrange deliveries so nobody has to go near the roof. Make sure anyone with a known allergy has been told.

Where animals, stock or equipment are involved, think about their position as well. Keep animals away from the area around the entrance, and cover feed and water that wasps might be attracted to.

Access and price

Outbuildings can be easier to reach than a house roof, but not always. A low flat roof is straightforward, while a high commercial unit, a roof over a yard or a building hemmed in by other structures can be harder. Where special access equipment is required, the price might be higher than the usual figure, and you would be told on the phone before agreeing.

The standard treatment is £70 per nest, and a second nest on the same property is £25 extra. That is useful to know on a site with several buildings, since wasps sometimes nest in more than one. There is no call-out charge.

When you ring, say which building the nest is in, what the roof is like, how high the entrance is and whether the ground in front of it is clear. If the site has a gate, a lock or limited parking, mention those as well.

If you manage a site with several units, tell the technician which one has the nest and where the others are, so they do not have to hunt for the right building.

If you share the building with other users, such as other tenants or neighbouring units, let them know so nobody wanders in while the nest is active.

Booking and prevention

The service covers domestic and commercial customers, seven days a week, with same-day visits offered. Technicians are fully insured and qualified. In Little Owston and the surrounding villages, use the online booking form or the contact page and the technician is alerted by SMS and email.

Once the nest has been treated, close the gap. Ask a roofer or a handyman to deal with the edge of the sheeting, the joins at the eaves and any holes in the wall plate. Make a note to walk round every building in April and again in late May. A short check of each roof takes only a few minutes, and a small nest is easier to deal with than a large one.

If you are a business with several sites, keep a simple log of where wasps have been found. It shows which buildings are most at risk.

Ask about the empty nest when you book, in case it can be taken down once the wasps have gone.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Little Owston