Why flat roofs get nests
Flat roof voids are warm, dry and undisturbed, and the edges of an older roof are full of entry points: lifted felt, gaps at the wall abutment, spaces around fascia trims. A queen slips in during spring and the colony grows all summer above the ceiling.
Extension roofs are the classic case, because the void sits directly above a lived-in room. That is when people first hear the nest, as a faint scratching above the ceiling.
Signs of a flat roof nest
Outside, look for the flight line: wasps arriving at one point along the roof edge and vanishing under the felt or trim. Inside, listen for scratching or crackling above the ceiling, and watch for wasps appearing in the room below, often around light fittings.
In late summer a big nest can press on the plasterboard and leave a stained or soft patch in the ceiling. If you see that, do not touch it and call us.
- A steady stream under the felt edge or trim
- Scratching above the extension ceiling
- Wasps indoors near downlighters
- A soft or stained patch on the ceiling in late summer
Do not peel back the felt
Lifting the felt to "have a look" opens the nest void with your face inches away. It is one of the surest ways to get stung, and it lets rain into your roof at the same time.
Do not block the entrance gap either. Trapped wasps will chew through the plasterboard into the room below.
How we treat a flat roof nest
We treat the entrance the wasps are using, from a safe position, without opening the roof. The workers carry the treatment into the void and the whole colony, queen included, is dealt with.
Traffic drops within hours and the nest is normally inactive within 24. One nest is £125 fixed, no call-out fee, and the free revisit covers you if it stays active.
Afterwards
The dead nest in the void is harmless and will not be reused. There is no need to open the roof to remove it.
When the roof is next repaired or replaced, ask the roofer to seal the edge gaps. Until then, a yearly glance along the roof edge in spring is the best early warning you have.
Flat roof nests: common questions
Will the nest stain or damage my ceiling?
A large nest can soften or stain plasterboard beside it late in the season. Treating early avoids it, and any mark is usually a simple patch and repaint.
Can you treat it without walking on the roof?
Yes. We treat the entrance from a safe position and do not need to open or walk on the roof.
Wasps are coming through the light fittings. What do I do?
Keep the room door shut, avoid using those lights, and call us. It means the nest is directly above and the treatment is urgent rather than difficult.