Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Huntington? Here's What to Do
When the loft belongs to a business, a wasp nest raises questions about staff, customers and opening hours as well as stings, and a few practical decisions make it manageable.
When the roof space is a workplace issue
Wasps do not respect opening hours. A nest in the roof space above a shop floor, a workshop or an office can send wasps into rooms where employees and customers are standing around. The effect is immediate: people become distracted, uneasy and sometimes frightened.
The business treats wasps at domestic and commercial properties alike, and the same fixed price applies to both. Commercial customers can contact the business for a quote and booking, just like householders.
If you manage premises, the main aim is to keep people away from the nest and the wasps until a technician has been.
A single wasp in a reception area can generate a surprising amount of attention, and a stream of them can make a room unusable for the afternoon. Acting calmly and early protects both people and trade.
Immediate steps for staff and customers
A short list of instructions is easier to follow than a long policy.
- Tell staff not to enter the roof space or open any access hatch.
- Keep the doors to rooms beneath the nest closed where practical.
- Move seating, tills or desks away from the area where wasps are appearing.
- Keep food, drinks and open bins away from public areas.
- Make a note of where, when and how many wasps are seen, and share it with whoever calls the business.
If a customer is stung, offer simple first aid: wash the sting site, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. For swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999.
Think about who is most at risk: a receptionist at a desk under the nest, a delivery driver at the back door, or a customer with a child. Place a simple notice at the door to the affected area.
If wasps are mainly appearing at one window, closing blinds can cut the attraction of the light and reduce the number heading that way.
Choosing a time that suits the premises
Many businesses prefer treatment outside trading hours. The business is open seven days a week with evening and weekend appointments, which makes this easier. Same-day service is also offered, so a problem noticed on a Monday morning does not have to wait for the following week.
You do not pay extra for the time of day. The fixed price is £80 per nest, with an additional nest on the same property at £40 and no call-out charge. One visit is guaranteed.
If you need the problem dealt with out of normal office hours, use the online form to request emergency help.
Commercial customers often ask whether they will get paperwork. If you need a record for your files, ask when you book what the business can provide, and keep a note of the date and time of the visit yourself.
A shop owner might prefer treatment first thing in the morning, before staff arrive. A workshop might prefer a quiet weekend. Both are possible.
What the technician needs from you
Give a clear picture of access. In a commercial building the route to the roof space may pass through stockrooms, offices or staff areas, and the technician needs to know who holds the keys.
Provide details of any alarm systems, locked doors or areas that are off limits. Let the technician know if the premises are shared with other occupiers, since a neighbouring unit might be affected.
Name a contact person who can be reached on the day. This helps if the technician needs to ask a question about the building.
Decide in advance who will meet the technician and who will lock up afterwards. A visit that begins with a short walk through the premises and a look at the outside of the roof is much more efficient than one that starts with a search for keys.
Keeping other people informed
A short notice for staff, explaining that a technician is attending and that the roof space is not to be entered, is usually enough. Customers rarely need more than a sign on the affected area.
If your premises are leased, your agreement may say who is responsible for pest problems and who organises treatment. That depends on the wording of the lease, so check it yourself rather than assuming. The same goes for insurance: policy terms vary, and your insurer is the one to ask.
Where several businesses share a building, let the others know the roof space is being treated. A neighbouring unit may see wasps too, and a joint call is simpler than separate ones.
Be ready to explain who can authorise the work. If you are a tenant rather than the owner, check your own arrangements before booking, as that is a matter between you and whoever you rent from.
Premises that serve food deserve particular care. Keep covered anything that wasps could be drawn to, and tell the technician if you work with open food in the rooms beneath the nest.
After treatment, and getting back to normal
Expect some dead wasps near the access point and in the rooms nearest the nest. A member of staff can sweep them up, using gloves, and put them in a sealed bag.
Wait a few days before anyone enters the roof space. Ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, which is best raised at booking.
To arrange a visit to premises in Huntington, phone 07916 322 280 or use the online booking form. The technicians are qualified and fully insured, and the treatment is safe and effective.
It is sensible to tell your team afterwards that the work is done and what to do if they see more wasps. That avoids repeated reports of a problem that has already been dealt with.
Wasps on your property in Huntington?
Fixed price £80 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.