Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Manston? Here's What to Do
A wasp nest hidden among loft insulation and boards is best left to a technician; clear a safe route to the hatch, and do not go up to look.
Leave the nest, and sort out access instead
A wasp nest in a loft should be treated by a trained technician, not removed or dealt with using an aerosol by the householder. The one useful thing you can do beforehand is to make sure that the hatch can be reached safely, so the visit goes smoothly. You do not need to go into the loft to do that.
Wasps are fond of lofts because the insulation, rafters and felt give them shelter and plenty of anchor points. The nest is often built against a rafter, or tucked behind the water tank or at the edge near the eaves, where it is out of the draught. The insulation can mask it from the hatch, so you may see nothing at all even when a large colony is at work just a few feet away.
That is exactly why a householder peering in with a torch is a poor idea. You may be closer to the nest than you think, and wasps will defend it.
Making the hatch easy to reach
If the hatch is in a cupboard, behind furniture or above a stairwell, the technician will need to get to it. Think about the following before the visit.
- Clear the floor beneath the hatch so a ladder can be placed on a firm, level surface.
- Move any furniture, plants or ornaments out of the way, as they may get in the technician’s way.
- Close the doors of nearby rooms to stop wasps from wandering in during the visit.
- Tell us if the hatch is small, stiff or painted shut, or if there is a pull-down ladder.
- Mention if the loft is boarded, partly boarded or full of stored belongings.
Do not open the hatch yourself to check how it moves. If the hatch is stiff and you suspect it will not shift easily, simply say so when you book.
Why you should not disturb the insulation or boards
It can be tempting to lift the hatch a few centimetres to see what is going on. This is the commonest way people end up stung. The vibration of the hatch, the sudden light and the change in air movement can all put a colony on alert.
Equally, do not push insulation around, pull up boards or reach in to look behind the tank. If you see wasps flying near the hatch edge, step away calmly and close the door of the room.
The same applies to blocking the wasps’ exit hole on the outside of the house. Wasps are using it as their route, and sealing it can send them looking for another, which is often the hatch. Leave it open until the nest has been treated, and then ask the technician whether the gap should be repaired.
What happens on the day
The price for the treatment is fixed at £90, agreed on the phone before the technician comes, with no call-out charge. If a second nest is found on the same property, it is an additional £35. No work starts until you have agreed.
On arrival, the technician will ask where wasps have been seen, check the hatch and ladder position and then treat the nest. The work is carried out by trained and fully insured staff, and the same service is offered for homes and commercial premises. If anybody in the house is allergic to stings, mention it when you book so it can be taken into account.
Ask at booking if the empty nest can be taken down afterwards. The technician can tell you what is practical, depending on where it is and how easy it is to reach.
Afterwards, and booking a visit
Once the nest has been treated, leave the hatch closed until the technician has said it is fine. Dead wasps may fall through gaps in the boards or insulation, and you might find some under the hatch. Clear them with a brush and pan or vacuum, wearing gloves. Do not rush to clear the loft out.
If you keep your Christmas decorations, suitcases or other stored items up there, consider washing or wiping anything that has been close to the nest before it comes back into the house.
To book for Manston, call 0113 347 0014 or use the online form on the contact page. We offer same-day service and open seven days a week.
Estimating the nest, and a checklist before you phone
Householders often ask how big a nest is, but with insulation and boards around, even a professional would not see the whole thing until they are up there. The nest you can see from the hatch may only be the visible side of a larger structure. Fortunately, the treatment price is fixed, so that is a question for the technician rather than one you need to answer before booking.
What you can usefully report is how long you have been seeing wasps, how many there are on a warm afternoon, and where they seem to arrive. A busy line of wasps at a single gap suggests a well-established colony, while only the odd one suggests it is early or the nest is further from the hatch than the entrance.
It is also worth knowing that wasps do not reuse an old nest from one year to the next. A forgotten nest in the corner of the loft from last summer is no reason to expect a new colony in the same place, though a queen may well choose the same sheltered spot to build a fresh one. If you find an old, dry nest while clearing the loft in winter, it is safe to deal with once you are sure it is empty, but ask the technician if you are unsure.
A few minutes of preparation will help the booking go quickly.
- Know which side of the house the wasps are using to get in and out.
- Note where the hatch is and how it opens.
- Tell us about any allergies in the household.
- Have your address and a contact number to hand.
Wasps on your property in Manston?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.