Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Gildersome? Here's What to Do
For a shop, workshop or office, a wasp nest in the roof void is a staff and customer safety matter; here is how to manage it until the nest is treated.
A nest above a workplace
When a wasp nest is found in the roof space of a business, the first concern is to protect staff and customers by keeping people clear of the access point and getting the nest treated by a trained technician. We treat commercial premises as well as homes, at the same fixed price of £90 per nest.
A roof void over a unit, shop, office or hall tends to be large, warm and rarely visited, so a queen can build in peace for weeks. By the time wasps are seen in the premises, the colony may be well established. Early summer is when it often becomes noticeable, though activity is greatest by August.
Unlike at home, there are usually more people to consider, and several of them may not know what is above their heads. Clear communication is half the job.
Take a moment to write down what you know: when wasps were first seen, in which part of the building, and whether the number is rising. That record is useful for the booking call and for anyone else who manages the site.
Immediate steps for a manager
Take the following steps as soon as you suspect a nest.
- Keep everyone out of the roof void, including maintenance staff and contractors.
- Place a notice at the access hatch, ladder or ceiling tile so nobody opens it by accident.
- Tell your staff what has been seen, and ask them not to swat, use aerosols on or poke at wasps.
- Note where wasps are appearing inside and where they enter the building.
- Check whether anyone working there is allergic to wasp stings, and tell us when you book.
Do not seal the entrance on the outside, as that can drive wasps into the building. If you want the gap closed, wait until after the treatment.
If staff ask what is going on, a brief and factual answer is best: wasps have been found in the roof space, a professional is booked, and nobody should go near the access point. That prevents rumours and stops well-meaning people from trying their own solution.
Where deliveries or visitors use an entrance directly below the nest, consider using another door for a day or two.
What a technician will want to know
Before the visit, collect a few details so that the technician can plan. They will want to know how the roof void is reached and whether special equipment such as a tower or long ladder is needed, how high the access point is, and whether there are fragile ceiling tiles, plant or wiring in the way. It also helps to know if the void is shared with a neighbouring unit.
A site plan is not required. A short description, a photograph of the access point and a note of where the wasps are seen are plenty. If the premises are locked at certain times, make sure a key holder is available.
Remember that wasps are most active in warm, bright conditions and are often busiest in the middle of the day. The technician will take account of that. You do not need to arrange the timing around the wasps, only around the people on site.
Protecting customers and keeping the premises running
If the nest is above a sales area, a café or a reception, wasps wandering in can cause alarm quickly. Move customers and desks away from the affected area if you can, and keep doors and windows near it shut.
Cover food and drink, keep bins closed and wipe up sugary spills, which draw wasps in. In a kitchen, take extra care. If a wasp does come in, do not swat it; open a door or window and let it leave.
Keep a note of where staff have been stung or have seen wasps. For a sting, wash the skin, take out the sting if you can see it, and hold a cold pack on the spot. Call 999 if they develop swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
We cannot advise on your wider obligations as an employer or occupier. If you have questions about that, check your policy documents or take advice from the right source.
Booking a visit for a commercial property
The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician arrives. It is a fixed £90 for a nest, with an additional nest at the same property costing £35. There is no call-out charge, and nothing is done until you have agreed to it. The technicians are trained and the work is fully insured.
When you call, tell us how to reach the void, whether a ladder or access equipment is needed and who will be on site to open up. Say whether the premises are open to the public during the visit, so the technician can plan around you.
We are open seven days a week and offer same-day service, which can help if the business wants the problem resolved without a long wait.
If you have a regular maintenance contractor or facilities company, let them know the situation too, so they do not send anyone to the roof void during the visit or in the days before it.
After the treatment
Staff will probably find dead wasps in the affected area. Have a vacuum or brush and pan to hand, and clear them with gloves on, since a wasp that seems lifeless can still sting. Keep the access point closed until the technician has told you it is fine.
The old nest can be left where it is, but you can ask whether it can be taken down when you book. Have the gap repaired by a builder or roofer before next spring, so another queen does not settle in the same spot.
To book for Gildersome, phone 0113 347 0014 or use the online form on the contact page.
Wasps on your property in Gildersome?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.