10+ Safe and Easy Steps to Get Rid of Wasp Nests in Your Roof

Co-authored by Scott McCombe and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: May 28, 2022 References

Finding wasp nests is never a welcome surprise, but getting rid of them in your roof can be a tough feat to take on. Thankfully, there are a couple of different methods you can use to kill the wasp colony and knock down the nests to get rid of them once and for all. Keep reading to learn how you can dispose of the wasp nests in your roof and keep your home safe from stinging insects.

This article is based on an interview with our pest control specialist, Scott McCombe, the CEO of Summit Environmental Solutions. Check out the full interview here.

1

Make sure you're dealing with a wasp nest, not a beehive.

While they look similar, the insects inside are much different. Wasp nests are gray or light brown, and they almost look like they’re made of wood. On the other hand, beehives have telltale hexagons that surround the entire structure. If you found a beehive in your roof and you want it gone, call a bee removal professional—they’ll be able to move the hive without killing the colony.^{[1]
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- Bees are an important pollinator species, and some of them are endangered.

2

Take care of the nests in the spring or early summer if you can.

That’s when the nests will be the smallest. If you find the nest in the late summer, you might want to call a professional for help. Large nests are hard to get rid of, and big colonies have a higher chance of stinging you during the removal process. If you want to take on the nests yourself, be sure to wear protection in case you get stung.^{[2]
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- Most wasp nests will be empty from the fall until early spring. If you find an empty wasp nest, it’s a good idea to remove it while you can, since other insects will sometimes come in and borrow it.

3

Approach the nests in the early morning.

Most of the wasps will still be inside their nest, not flying around. Wasps don’t become active until the late morning or early afternoon, when they fly out of their nest. If you can, try to get rid of the nests in your roof as early as you can to avoid getting stung as much as possible.^{[3]
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- Wasps are usually a little sleepier in the morning, so they might also be less aggressive.

4

Dress in pants, long sleeves, and gloves.

When you’re dealing with wasps, there’s always a chance you could get stung. Make sure you’re wearing long pants, close-toed shoes, long sleeves, and gloves. You can also wear goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes if you’re worried.^{[4]
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- If you’re allergic to wasps, don’t try to remove the nests yourself. There’s a high chance that you might get stung, so it’s not worth the risk. Call a professional instead to get the job done safely.^{[5]
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  Scott McCombe
  Pest Control Specialist
  Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.}

5

Pick a secure ladder that’s 3 ft (0.91 m) taller than your roof.

If the nests are outside, you need to get to them safely. Extend a ladder that’s at least 3 ft (0.91 m) taller than your roof and lean it against your home. Have one person stand on the ground and hold the ladder steady as you climb up it. Once you’ve reached the roof, you can either stay on the ladder if you’re close to the nest, or you can carefully climb onto the roof for a steadier foothold.^{[6]
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- Use extreme caution when climbing up the side of your house, and don’t step on your roof if it’s damaged.
- Make sure you have an exit route in case wasps fly out of their nest and start stinging you. It might be tough, but you need to climb down the ladder just as carefully as you climbed up it.

6

Try nest drenching for the most effective option.

Drenching the nests in insecticide kills the wasps almost instantly. Pick up a bottle of wasp insecticide from your local garden or hardware store, and make sure it has either a nozzle or a spray attachment on it. Very carefully go up to the roof where the nests are, then point the nozzle or the spray tip as close to one nest as you can. Spray the nest liberally, and try to spray any wasps that fly out of the nest if you see them. Then, move onto the next nest.^{[7]
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- This is not a great option to use if you have a wasp allergy. Nest drenching tends to stir wasp colonies up, and there’s a high likelihood you will get stung.

7

Go for nest dusting to lower your chances of getting stung.

Nest dusting is less risky for you, but it’s not quite as effective. Pick up a package of insecticide that’s in powder or dust form. Head up to where the nests are and quickly sprinkle a thin layer of insecticide all over the nests and the surrounding area. Get out of there quickly, as the wasps may fly out and try to sting you. Keep reapplying the insecticide every day for the next 2 weeks until you don’t see wasps anymore.^{[8]
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- Since the insecticide takes a longer time to kill the wasps, they’re less likely to get mad and fly out of their nest to sting you.

8

Remove the nests and throw them away once they’re empty.

Knock the nests down with a stick, then put them in a bag. Wasps only use their nests for a season, so an empty nest doesn’t pose much of a wasp threat once they’re dead. However, empty nests are perfect homes for other pests, including other wasp species. You can throw the nests into the garbage once you’ve bagged them up.^{[9]
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- If you can’t get to the empty wasp nests to knock them down, it’s okay. As long as you make sure other wasps can’t get to them by sealing off any entry points, it should be fine to just leave them alone.

9

Seal off any entry points in your roof.

Make sure that wasps can’t get back into the area of your roof. Use a leaf blower to blow all the dust and debris off your roof, then grab a silicone or polyurethane sealant.^{[10]
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- If you don’t want to go through the process of resealing your roof, you can also buy roof tape to patch and seal small areas.

10

Spray the perimeter of your roof with pesticide.

This is a prevention method that will deter future wasps.^{[12]
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Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.} Grab a can of insecticide and point the nozzle around the perimeter of your roof. Spray a thin layer all around your roof, focusing on the areas near the wasp nests. If any wasps come looking for a place to make a nest, they’ll avoid your roof and move onto somewhere else.^{[13]
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- If you used the nest drenching method, you can use the same bottle of insecticide you already have.

11

Call a pest company if you need to.

Sometimes, a wasp nest can be hard to take care of on your own. If it’s late summer or early fall and the wasp nest is pretty big, it might be best to let a professional handle it.^{[14]
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Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.} Wasps are also usually more aggressive in the late summer and early fall, so you have a higher likelihood of getting stung if you choose to DIY your nest removal.^{[15]
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- Most wasp nest removal services cost between $100 and $400. It depends a lot on the location of the nest and what type of wasps you’re dealing with.^{[16]
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Warnings

Insecticides can be dangerous. Always read the warning labels, and follow all of the safety instructions on the back.

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If you get stung by a wasp and experience hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing, you may be having an allergic reaction and you should call emergency services.^{[17]
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American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
National professional organization of allergists, asthma specialists and immunologists that focuses on supporting and publishing research
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