Do wasps damage buildings?

[Chris S]

There is a wasps' nest above my bathroom ceiling. I can hear them 'scratching' and occasionally one pops out of a gap by the light fitment.

There isn't an attic above the bathroom ceiling, just some joists and then the roof tiles.

According to Wikipedia wasps make there nests out of 'paper' which they produce by chewing plants and dead wood. Would this include wooden joists? I doubt if they would have been treated.

 

[fossyant]

It's fine.

I can't imagine machined and dried wood in houses is nice - they get it from plants and live trees.

We have one in the very top of our eves on the front elevation - we've been getting 2-4 not very active wasps getting in the front landing window, then they die. The nests are only used for 1 season, and if not bothering you, I'd leave it. I've destroyed about 3 nests over the years in my garage roof/outside eves, as we had two cats that loved to run around my garage loft (the current cats don't).

Wasp nest destroyer foam works - but you need to be able to see the nest, and also only do it after dark as wasps are less active - I'd also recommend a bottle or two of wine before you attempt it. It works.

Or where you can't see the nest, but can reach the access point (e.g gap in brickwork), puff ant powder into the gap - the wasps carry it in and kill them all. - Again, after dark and wine needed.

If no wine, and not after dark, stay away.

 

[Cycleops]

I imagine they can. I should get your local Dale Gribble extermination guy to advise you. While you're at it get your roof timber treated too.

 

[fossyant]

@waspyfecker

 

[Chris S]

I should get your local Dale Gribble extermination guy to advise you. While you're at it get your roof timber treated too.
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I can guess what he would say and the bathroom roof timber isn't accessible without removing the slates or the ceiling!

 

[guitarpete247]

I've watched them eating our wooden fence that has been treated with ronseal.

 

[Globalti]

What are wasps for?

 

[Levo-Lon]

I sat in a beer garden for a while today, wasps were obviously playing at home!!

Wasps do have there uses nature wise,but most humans dislike them.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

They're important pollinators.

 

[Cycleops]

I can guess what he would say and the bathroom roof timber isn't accessible without removing the slates or the ceiling!

Is the house very old? If it is you might be asked for pest inspection report by a prospective purchaser's mortgage lender. I know I have on some older property I sold.

It shouldn't be too difficult to cut an access panel in a plasterboard ceiling or other types. You can replace it with a plywood hatch.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I sat in a beer garden for a while today, wasps were obviously playing at home!!

Wasps do have there uses nature wise,but most humans dislike them.

I'm allergic to the stings. I try to stay away from them.

 

[fossyant]

They're important pollinators.

And a pest controller...

 

[rvw]

We had a nest in our loft - very annoying, as at the time our loft hatch fitted very badly and they kept coming into the house that way. When the pest control guy came to dispose of them he pointed out that they had eaten right through the soffits.

 

[annedonnelly]

Every year wasps come and scrape fibre off the plant trellis by the back door. So far they haven't destroyed that so I think it'd take them a while to work their way through a joist.

 

[Dave7]

I can guess what he would say and the bathroom roof timber isn't accessible without removing the slates or the ceiling!

How are they getting in? Mine were getting in through a small hole.......so the wasp removal guy injected/sprayed through that hole. (This was right above the bathroom so we couldnt open the window).
All gone by next day.......I blocked the hole so they couldnt get back.
Last year they were back via another hole further along so same procedure. I then got Mr Fixit in to seal all likely options.......they havent been back this year.