We're doing a major gut renovation on an old house, and while tearing down the drywall and lathe, we've come across a lot of mud wasp nests on the ceilings and walls. There are no live wasps around yet, but I'm worried about leaving those nests behind. My husband thinks they are probably old and dormant, and we should just drywall over them. I find that unacceptable. Do we need to take them out? Are they dangerous at all? Who's right in this debate?
3 Answers
Leaving those nests in the walls is a bad idea. Even if they’re old and empty, they can attract moisture and mold, which is worse. Plus, since you're ripping out walls, pull them out now! It's just common sense to keep your space clean and safe before insulating again.
You don’t technically have to, but I’d highly recommend it. You never know if there might still be some wasp activity. Plus, it’s essential to figure out how they got in. Seal up any entry points to prevent future issues. Don't leave anything to chance!
Yes, and don’t forget that ignoring those nests can lead to unexpected visitors later on. It’s worth the trouble to deal with it now!
You should definitely remove those nests! Mud dauber wasps aren’t aggressive, so they technically don’t pose a danger, but it's better for tidiness and peace of mind to clean them out now while everything is open. Plus, you don’t want any leftover hatchlings causing surprises later. Use a shop vac for a quick clean-up!
Exactly! It's not that you have to remove them for safety, but you definitely should. Best practice is to clean up before closing things up!
Right? If you're already putting in the effort to remodel, don't cut corners. Get rid of anything that might create problems later!