Multiple Hives in Charlotte Rooftop Parapet Wall

Rooftop with urban skyline and trees

This was an awesome job that we completed towards the end of the 2023 season in Charlotte NC. There were three different honeybee colonies within the parapet wall of this building’s rooftop. We worked in conjunction with Weatherguard Roofing and Restoration’s technicians to complete this project. The amount of honeybees that were building up in this location had gotten to the point that they were disturbing the people occupying the surrounding buildings. We had to be strategic about the weather for this job as it was extensive and took 3 days to complete the removals. It was definitely time and energy consuming. But like most projects, it was satisfying in the end. It was also good to be able to see the roofing technicians learn about the honeybee’s habits and experience working around honeybees. All three hives were gaining access to the inside of the parapet walls from under where the scupper/drain for the roof penetrates the brick wall on the outside of the building.

Flat rooftop with ventilation opening, wooden patch, and tarp

Starting off we had the roofing technicians cut the TPO roofing back to expose the woodwork.

Bees clustered within a wooden structure, possibly a beehive, surrounded by honeycomb and building materials.

As you can see a decent sized colony full of bees.

Bee removal operation on a rooftop with exposed hive, tools, and tarp.
Beehive with honeycomb and bees inside a wooden structure.

This is halfway through the removal and this is a shot of the brood comb.

Person in bee suit removing beehive from roof with vacuum and tools, tarp on roof

Anthony vacuuming bees.

Bees swarming a partially exposed hive on a wooden structure.

These are mostly robber bees coming to clean up after the removal. we just suck them up and put them in the HTU.

Roof maintenance with exposed insulation, tools, and debris

Here the void is primed and started to be packed.

Roof repair in progress with exposed insulation, tools, and construction materials on a flat roof.

Here all of the void is filled with insulation to prevent future infestations.

Rooftop construction scene with tools, plywood panel, and small opening.

Woodwork put back into place.

Flat rooftop with a small square vent opening and dirt marks on the surface.

After the roofers are done with their portion. These guys did awesome work.

Rooftop with a hole and debris

This was the largest of the three colonies. Although most of the bees had swarmed off.

Exposed honeycomb inside a wooden structure

The lighter comb is always a newer comb that has recently been made.

Exposed section of a roof showing honeycomb structures in a wall cavity, with roofing materials and debris around.

Take notice of how dark this comb is within this hive, the bees had been using it for sometime.

Rooftop with construction tools, debris, and a removed roof section, overlooking residential neighborhood and trees.

A look after all the comb is removed.

Close-up of bees clustered inside a wooden wall structure.

Here you can observe more robbing activity.

Roof area with remnants of a hive, flying bees, and scattered debris.

The void primed and ready.

Roof repair area with exposed fiberglass insulation, debris, and tools. A hole in the insulation and various tools like a utility knife and a caulking gun are visible.

The insulation is used as a filler and deterrent not for insulating purposes.

Rooftop with tools and cables under a cloudy sky with trees and buildings in the background.

A new scupper had to be ordered for this particular spot.

Flat rooftop with small entry point, scattered debris, and building view.

Last but not least, this was actually the midsized colony of the three.

Beekeeper removing bee colony from building wall with vacuum and protective gear, blue Lowes bucket nearby.

This is after half of the colony was removed. Sometimes i get carried away and forget a picture or two.

Open wall revealing a beehive with bees clustering around honeycomb structures.

This is a close up during the previous picture.

Person in protective beekeeping suit holding a honeycomb with bees, next to an open beehive on a rooftop, with trees in the background.

Here is Anthony holding a chunk of brood comb.

A beekeeper in protective clothing and yellow gloves handling a white wooden hive with honeycombs and bees, using a tool to open the hive.

Installing frames into the HTU.

Exposed section of a wall with bricks, insulation foam, wood, and visible termite damage.

Starting the sealing process to exclude the bees from the voids within the wall.

Exterior wall repair with bees, exposed wood, caulk gun, and tarp.

Start of the priming and packing of the exterior void.

Hive removal repairs.

We put insulation in the void between the brick and the wood.

Wooden construction with exposed insulation and caulking gun on a tarp; debris and blue gloves nearby.

Sealing off the exterior void from the interior wall.

Rooftop repair scene with caulk, caulking gun, screws, knife

Priming.

Wall repair with exposed insulation, tools, and materials, including a drill, screws, and caulk gun on a sheet.

Packing.

Flat roof with debris, two toy cars, and a boarded-up vent or opening.

And finished. The roofing technicians came afterwards and finished patching the TPO roofing.