EXCELLENT
Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in South Elmsall? Here's What to Do
The treatment is only half of it, and many people are left wondering about the dead wasps, the paper nest and the stained ceiling, so here is how to tidy up.
The first day or two afterwards
After a loft nest has been treated, the household often expects the problem to vanish instantly. In practice there is a short tail. For a day or so you may still see wasps near the hatch, around the old entrance outside or on a window ledge. Most are workers that were away when the nest was dealt with and are now circling where the nest used to be.
Treat this as normal, not as a sign that the treatment has failed. Keep the hatch closed, keep doors on the top floor shut and avoid leaving sweet food or drinks out. If the numbers are large after the first couple of days, contact the technician and explain what you are seeing, since they will want to know.
It also helps to know how long to wait before going back into the loft. A day or two is generally enough for the activity to settle, but ask the technician if you are not sure, and take a torch, gloves and long sleeves with you when you do go up.
Dead wasps: how to deal with them
You will probably find dead wasps in a few places. They tend to collect where they fell in the roof space, so the first ones appear around the hatch, in the cornice below the nest and on windowsills where they went looking for light.
- Wear gloves. A wasp that looks lifeless can still sting, particularly in the first day.
- Use a dustpan and brush, or a vacuum with a hose attachment, and empty it outdoors afterwards.
- Put the wasps in a sealed bag in the household rubbish.
- Wipe surfaces with ordinary cleaner, and rinse any cloth you used.
- Check shoes and clothes left on the floor near the hatch before you put them on.
Do not sweep with bare hands or squash anything with a bare foot. Children and pets should be kept away until the area is clear.
Pets deserve a mention. A cat or dog may be intrigued by the dead wasps on the floor and could be stung by one that is not quite finished. Clear them away before letting animals back into the room.
The paper nest and what to do about it
The nest is made of chewed wood fibre, so it is light, papery and fragile. After treatment it stays where it was built. It does not rot quickly, and it will not do any harm sitting in an undisturbed loft, though some people do not like the thought of it being there.
If you want it taken down, ask the technician when you book whether that can be arranged. Do not assume it will be removed, and do not decide to do it yourself on the first day. If you do remove it later, do it carefully once all activity has stopped, wear gloves and a dust mask, and bag it gently in one go. Dry paper and old larvae can be dusty and unpleasant.
An old nest is not reused by wasps. Next year’s queen will build a fresh one, so the main reason to remove the old nest is tidiness, not safety.
Stains, smells and insulation
Sometimes a nest leaves a mark. A brownish stain on the plasterboard below is the most common, caused by moisture and material seeping from the nest. Allow the ceiling to dry for a few weeks. Once it is dry, a stain-blocking paint is a normal remedy.
If the stain returns or grows after rain, do not assume it is the nest. A leak from the roof covering is a separate matter and a roofer should see it.
You may notice a faint, sweetish or musty smell for a short while. Opening the loft hatch for a few minutes once the wasps are gone, and a window on the landing, is normally enough to clear it. Insulation that has been chewed or disturbed near the nest can be tidied or topped up, though minor damage is cosmetic, not structural.
If you plan to repaint, wait until the stain is completely dry, apply a stain-blocking primer and then paint as normal. Painting over a damp patch simply traps the stain, and it tends to show through again within weeks.
Check the area around the hatch too. A few loose pieces of paper or debris may have drifted down, and a quick wipe of the frame with a damp cloth will deal with them.
Booking and fixed price
If you are reading this before treatment and want the clear-up part to be easy, the first step is to arrange the visit. A wasp nest costs £70 per nest, with an additional nest at the same property £25 and no call-out charge. The price is agreed on the phone before anyone travels, and it may only rise if special access equipment is needed to reach the nest. Nothing goes ahead without your agreement.
Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and the service runs every day of the week with same-day visits offered, for homes and businesses. You can book online through the booking form or use the contact page, and in South Elmsall and the surrounding area the technician is alerted by SMS and email as soon as it arrives.
If you are planning ahead for next season, a short look at the roofline in spring will catch most problems early. A small nest found in May, before the colony has built up, can be dealt with at the same fixed price as one found in August, and the clear-up afterwards is far smaller.
Wasps on your property in South Elmsall?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.