Wasp nests
Where Wasps Nest in Period Buildings
Much of Childs Hill was built before cavity walls and sealed roofs, and the brick and timber details of that era leave plenty of sheltered spaces. Nests on these buildings are less often in a deep soffit and more often somewhere in the brickwork or the chimney. Where wasps build nests covers the full range.
Disused chimneys
Many terraced houses and mansion flats have fireplaces that are no longer used, and the flue above them is dry, dark and undisturbed. Wasps enter at the chimney pot or through a gap in the stack. You may notice them circling the chimney on a warm day, or find a few crawling out of a boarded-over fireplace. Do not light a fire to drive them out.
Air bricks and weathered mortar
Wasps use air bricks in front walls and lightwells, and gaps where old lime mortar has worn away, to reach the cavity behind. Can wasps nest inside walls? explains what is happening behind the brick. Do not block the air brick; trapped wasps will look for another way out, sometimes into a room.
Parapets and the top floor
The parapet wall along the top of a block hides a gutter and a roof edge behind it, and nests can be built in the timber or under the lead there. They are usually near a top-floor flat's windows. The roof of a block is part of the common parts, so tell the managing agent, and Pest Control Childs Hill explains how that usually works.
Checking Where They Go
On a warm afternoon, watch from a safe distance. A nest shows as a steady line of wasps flying in and out of one gap. Note whether it is the chimney, an air brick, the brickwork or the parapet, and roughly how high, because that decides the access needed. The signs of an active nest and telling wasps from bees help if you are unsure; bees sometimes use chimneys too. Birds in the chimney are a different problem and can bring carpet beetles.
In the meantime
- Keep windows near the nest shut, and keep a boarded-over fireplace closed
- Do not poke at the entrance or spray it from a ladder
- Keep children and pets away from the flight line in the garden or lightwell
- Anyone who has reacted badly to a sting should stay well away, and signs of a severe allergic reaction mean calling 999
Booking a Wasp Visit in NW2
When you book, say where the entrance is, how high it is, and whether it is on a house or a block. For a nest in a chimney, tell us which room the fireplace is in. For a nest by the parapet, check whether the agent can arrange roof access. Is it safe to remove a wasp nest yourself? explains why it is better not to try.
After the visit
Wasps may keep flying around the entrance for a while, so keep nearby windows shut. The old nest does not need removing from the chimney or wall, as wasps do not reuse it. If the nest is still active within 30 days, we come back at no extra cost. Will wasps come back? explains what to expect.
Making Old Brickwork Less Inviting
Once the season is over, have a chimney that is no longer used fitted with a cowl or guard, repoint gaps in old brickwork, and replace broken air brick grilles with ones that keep insects out but let air through. Wasp Nest Removal Barnet covers the loft and eaves nests elsewhere in the borough. If you hear scrabbling in the roof rather than buzzing, see squirrel control.
