Wall ties and cavity insulation
A wasp nest fills a cavity and was not opened. What of the ties behind the nest is unknown?
The ties behind the nest are unknown. A wasp nest filling the cavity was recorded and was not opened, so the wall ties that should cross that void were never seen. Looking at the outer leaf does not test ties, and a nest left in place blocks even that limited view of the cavity. The survey has not decided whether those ties are present, sound, corroded or missing. The nest is a note of what was visible. It is not a report on the metalwork behind it.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
Wall ties are the metal links that join the outer leaf to the inner leaf so the two skins act together. A nest packed into the cavity can hide broken, rusted or absent ties, and it can hold debris against the inner face. The surveyor did not cut the nest out and did not look past it with a borescope. Soft mortar or a stained leaf nearby would still only be a surface clue. The ties themselves stay unseen until that cavity is opened under a separate instruction.
Tell the lender, if they ask about ties, that the nest was left in place and that no tie test was done. A specialist can open or scope the cavity once the nest is dealt with, and that work is not this report. Do not describe the wall as tied because the brick face looked even. Ask the seller whether anyone has already treated the nest or inspected the cavity, and keep that reply with your solicitor rather than folding it into the survey.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Was the wasp nest left unopened so the cavity ties were never seen?
- Did this visit use a borescope or any tie test behind the nest?
- Are stained bricks or soft mortar being treated as a tie result?
What are the typical next steps?
- Treat the ties behind the nest as unseen.
- Tell a lender that no cavity-tie test was carried out.
- Keep any seller note about the nest separate from the survey.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Can the outer leaf still be read as evidence of the ties?
Only as a surface impression, and a weak one. An even outer leaf does not show whether ties behind a nest are present or rusted through. This visit did not open the cavity and did not test the metal. The survey has recorded the nest and the limit. It has not decided that the wall is tied.
Should the nest be knocked out during the home survey?
No. Clearing a nest, and then looking at the ties, is separate work and was not part of this visit. The surveyor recorded the nest and left it. A pest contractor and, after that, a tie specialist would be further instructions. Do not read the untouched nest as a clean cavity.