Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Adwalton Homes
For a business, a nest under the roof tiles is a safety and reputation issue as well as a pest problem, and acting quickly protects staff and customers.
The straight answer for business owners
A wasp nest under the roof tiles of a shop, office or workshop should be dealt with as soon as it is spotted. Customers and staff can be stung entering or leaving, deliveries can be disrupted and wasps drawn indoors by food or drink can alarm visitors. The nest grows through the summer and peaks in August, so waiting makes things worse.
We treat commercial properties as well as homes, at the same fixed price of £90 for a nest, and £35 for an additional one.
If the property is shared with other tenants, such as in a parade of units, a note to the neighbouring businesses can help. Wasps do not care whose unit they enter, and an unnoticed nest next door can affect everyone.
Reputation matters in business. A customer who is stung on the way in is likely to remember it, and a wasp in a serving or waiting area gets noticed very quickly. Dealing with the nest promptly is part of looking after the people who use your premises.
Spotting the problem in a commercial setting
Business premises are often busy, with several people coming and going, and that can make a nest harder to spot until someone is stung. Ask staff to report wasp activity at the roofline, entrances, loading bays and bin areas. A quiet note from a member of staff who noticed wasps going into the same gap each morning is worth acting on.
- Check the roofline above the main entrance and any staff door.
- Ask whoever opens and closes the premises to look out for traffic.
- Look at the area around bins, skips and food waste, which attract wasps.
- Note whether there is more than one nest on the building.
For food businesses, the concern is greater, since wasps are drawn to anything sweet or meaty. Keep waste in lidded containers, wipe down outdoor surfaces promptly and make sure that any deliveries of food are brought indoors without delay. Wasps in a kitchen or serving area are a problem in any business, so act before it reaches that stage.
Protecting staff and customers in the meantime
Keep people away from the area below the entrance. If it is by the main door, put up a clear notice asking visitors to use another way in, if there is one. Keep doors and windows close to the nest shut during the warmest part of the day, and make sure outdoor seating, smoking areas and bin stores are away from the flight path.
Brief your staff. Tell them where the nest is, ask them not to disturb it and give them a simple line to follow if a customer asks. Anyone who is allergic should say so, and managers should know who to call if somebody is stung and shows signs of a serious reaction, which means 999.
A short written note for staff, setting out what to do if they see a wasp and who to tell, can be useful. It is better to have a plan before anyone is stung than to improvise afterwards.
Why not to have staff deal with it
It may seem efficient to ask a member of staff with a ladder to sort it out, but working at height near a wasp nest is dangerous, and an accident is the last thing a business needs. Questions about liability and insurance depend on your policy, so check the terms with your insurer rather than assuming anything.
Likewise, do not block the gap while the nest is active. The wasps will look for another way out, which could be into the premises. Leave it alone and call for treatment.
If a customer or staff member is stung, they should wash the sting, remove the sting if they can see it and use a cold pack. If they show signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, a wheeze or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999 immediately.
Planning the visit around the working day
When you book, tell us how the premises operate. Are there times when the area below the nest is quiet? Is there a secure yard or gate? Who will meet the technician? These details help the visit go smoothly, and you keep your trading disruption to a minimum.
If the gap is high, say so. Special access equipment may be required, and we agree that on the phone beforehand. Where access is across a neighbouring unit or shared yard, arrange permission in advance.
A nest on a roof that is shared with other units may need the agreement of those who control the building. Having that agreed before the technician arrives saves time and avoids anyone being turned away at the door.
Where possible, choose a time when the area below the nest is not busy with deliveries, queues or vehicles. If the nest is above a customer entrance or a smoking area, it is sensible to cordon off the space for the duration of the visit with cones or tape, and to put up a short notice explaining why.
Booking
Phone 0113 347 0014, or book through the form on the contact page. Bookings are taken seven days a week, and same-day service is offered. Our trained technicians do the work under full insurance. The price is confirmed on the phone before the visit, there is no call-out charge and nothing is done until you agree. We cover Adwalton and the surrounding area for both domestic and commercial customers.
If you operate from rented premises, check who is responsible for roof matters under your lease, as that varies. Whoever books, the technician will need to be able to reach the nest and will need someone on site to explain where it is.
Wasps on your property in Adwalton?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.