Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Birstall? Here's What to Do
A little preparation makes a loft nest treatment quick and smooth: clear the way to the hatch, keep pets and children away and have the details ready.
The visit goes best when the way is clear
Once a wasp nest in the loft has been found, the quickest route to getting it dealt with is to book a treatment and prepare the house. A technician can only work as well as the access allows, so a few minutes spent clearing the way will help the visit run smoothly. You do not need to go into the loft to prepare.
Preparation matters more for lofts than for most nest locations. The hatch is often in an awkward place, the ladder needs a firm footing, and the technician has to carry equipment through your home. Making that route easy reduces the time spent in the house, and the time wasps are disturbed.
Treat this as a checklist rather than a chore. Most of it takes a few minutes.
It is also worth thinking about the time of day. Wasps are busiest on warm, bright afternoons, so it makes sense to tell us if the nest is at its noisiest at a particular time, which gives the technician a better idea of the colony’s activity.
A checklist for the day
Work through the following before the technician arrives.
- Clear the landing or room beneath the hatch, including rugs, boxes, plants and ornaments.
- Make sure there is clear floor for a ladder, and a path from the front door to the hatch.
- Move vehicles if the technician needs to reach an outside wall or roofline.
- Shut pets in a room well away from the loft, with food, water and a closed door.
- Keep children in another part of the house, and explain that the landing is out of bounds.
- Close windows in the rooms near the nest, so wasps are not drawn in.
- Have a contact number and the address ready to confirm.
If you can, leave the hatch itself exactly as it is. Do not open it to check, as that disturbs the nest.
If the hatch is above a staircase or in a high ceiling, mention this. A long or specialist ladder may be needed, and the technician can plan for that. A ladder needs a stable surface, so avoid leaving laundry racks, toys or shoes where it will stand.
What to tell us when you book
The more the technician knows, the better prepared they are. Mention where you have seen wasps entering outside, which room they have appeared in, and how long it has been going on. Say whether the hatch is easy to reach, whether it is in a cupboard or above a staircase, and whether the loft is boarded or has a fixed ladder.
Tell us if anyone at home is allergic to wasp stings, so we can take it into account, and mention if the property is a home, a rental or a business. The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, at a fixed £90, with no call-out charge and no work done until you agree. An additional nest at the same property is £35.
If the entrance is high on the building or on a conservatory, an extension or a garage roof, say so. These small details save time.
If you are booking for someone else, such as a parent or a tenant, make sure you have their permission and a contact number. The technician will need somebody at the house who can let them in and agree the work.
Photographs are welcome but optional. A clear picture of the landing, showing where the hatch is, tells us a lot, as does a photo of the wasps’ entrance taken from a safe distance.
Things to leave undone
Preparation does not include removing the nest, blocking the entrance or using an aerosol. Resist the urge to be helpful in these ways.
Do not seal the wasps’ hole on the outside, as that can push the colony into the house. Do not poke around in the loft to see how big the nest is, since a technician will assess that. Do not use aerosols in the room beneath the hatch, which will not reach the colony and can leave residue in the house.
Finally, do not make the nest the subject of a family expedition. Everyone watching from the garden is within range of the flight path and the attention of the wasps.
During and after the visit
The technician will check the access, carry out the treatment and tell you what they have done. They are trained and fully insured, and the service is available for homes and commercial properties. Ask any questions you have, including whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Afterwards, you may find dead wasps around the hatch and the landing. Wear gloves and use a brush and pan or a vacuum to clear them, as a wasp can sting even when it looks lifeless. Keep the hatch closed until you have been told it is fine.
Expect to see a few wasps near the old entrance on the following days, as workers away from the nest return. Keep windows closed nearby and do not swat them.
The technician will not ask you to go into the loft, and you should not offer. If you are asked a question about the loft, such as whether it is boarded, answer from what you already know.
How to book in Birstall
To arrange a treatment, phone 0113 347 0014 or use the online booking form on the contact page. We cover Birstall and the surrounding towns and villages in West Yorkshire, are open seven days a week and offer same-day service.
If you are not sure that the nest is in the loft, or you need advice on preparation, ask when you call. The team will talk it through, and you can book with confidence knowing the price in advance.
Wasps on your property in Birstall?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.