Why wasps choose lofts
Queens get in through gaps at the eaves, under tiles or around roof vents. The loft gives the colony shelter from rain and wind, warmth from the house below, and rafters to hang the nest from. Nobody disturbs it for months, so it can reach its full size by August.
Stay out of the loft
A loft is a confined space with poor light, uneven joists and nowhere to retreat to. Disturbing a large nest up there can bring out hundreds of wasps at once while you are balanced on a ladder or crouched between rafters. Do not go up to take a closer look, and do not store or collect anything until the nest has been treated.
Shut the hatch and seal the gaps below
- Keep the loft hatch closed, and put tape around its edges if wasps are getting past it
- Check ceiling light fittings and the gaps around them on the top floor
- Keep bedroom doors and windows on the top floor closed where wasps are appearing
- Do not block the entrance on the outside of the roof — wasps shut in will look for a way out, and that may be into the house
Wasps inside the house
Wasps from a loft nest often end up at upstairs windows, attracted by the light. They are usually disorientated rather than attacking, but they will sting if trapped against skin or clothing. Open a window and let them find their own way out, and keep children out of that room.
Is it wasps, bees or something else?
Tree bumblebees also nest in lofts and under eaves, and the noise of a squirrel is often mistaken for a nest. A clear photo of the insects at the entrance, taken from the ground, helps. Compare with a wasp nest or a bee nest; if the noise is scratching and thudding, see squirrel control.
Getting it treated
When you book, tell us whether the loft has a hatch and a ladder, whether it is boarded, and where you have seen the wasps going in outside. A standard loft nest is £90 fixed price, the same as a nest anywhere else on the house. It is guaranteed: if the nest is still active within 30 days, we come back at no extra cost.
Does the nest need removing afterwards?
Usually not. Once the colony is dead, the nest is a dry, papery shell, and wasps do not move back into an old nest the following year. It can be left, or taken down later in the winter once it is completely inactive. What happens in the days after a visit is covered in how long treatment takes to work.
Lofts in Brent
Loft nests are especially common in the 1920s and 1930s houses of Kingsbury, Queensbury and Preston, where the eaves were built with open timber details. Loft conversions and extensions can create new gaps where old and new roofs meet.
