Is it safe to let Ivy grow on a brick wall?

Question

I have ivy growing on the side of my brick house. I have read that this can cause damage to the wall. I have also read that it is not true that ivy will damage a brick wall. What is the correct answer?

Answer 1

If it was not safe, a lot of our public and university buildings would be just piles by now. The problem with ivy and bricks comes from the tiny tentacles of the ivy grown into the mortar
and after many years causing the mortar to crack. As the mortar separate from the brick, there is nothing to hold things together and the building or wall becomes unsafe. But that takes a long time, and most brick home are fine.
Here in California, where easterner's built brick homes like they lived in back east, our earthquakes do far more damage. But properly reinforced brick is lovely and long lasting.
The other problem with ivy on brick is the insects it attracts
and the ugly stick-tight dead vines when the ivy dies.
Since the ivy is on your house, you might like to pull a section off and see how the mortar looks. Removing ivy is a horrendous job, but may be necessary if there is damage..

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is it safe to let Ivy grow on a brick wall?
I have ivy growing on the side of my brick house. I have read that this can cause damage to the wall. I have also read that it is not true that ivy will damage a brick wall. What is the correct answer?

Answer 3

I've seen ivy on some VERY old brick walls but I didn't inspect the walls for sound structure. Other types of walls like shingles may suffer more damage from any type of vines. However, Ivy is said to be a very invasive plant which takes a lot of work to keep under control. It can very readily take over your whole yard and garden and is not recommended for use in the yard.

Answer 4

Over time it will damage your brick wall. The tendrils that help it adhere to the wall will work their ways into cracks and tend to want to break up the bricking at the mortar joints. Also it will tend to do damage around your window silles and roof line. Yes, it does look pretty and it won't damage it fast, but over time it will damage your brick.

I wouldn't let it grow on the wall.

I've also seen on the show This Old House where they removed ivy to keep it from tearing up stucco walls. I've personally seen it tear up brick walls.

It's best to not ever let it grow on the wall. Once it starts working its way into the cracks it partially holds the wall together after so many years, then when you try to remove it that's when a lot of the damage is done. However, by it getting into the cracks it can also allow water to get into the cracks then freezing and thawing occurs making the cracks bigger and allowing more vine to get into them. When you try pulling the ivy off, part of the mortar will come with it.

If you do try removing the ivy, I recommend cutting the vines off at the base then allowing the vines on the wall to wither and die completely before attempting to pull them off. They won't damage the wall so much that way.

Answer 5

Ivy On House

Answer 6

Traditional English Ivy is the plant most horror stories you hear about have. the smaller hybrid varieties are OK. Or you can use creeping fig....still green, nice coverage, not evergreen, and the stems and suckers stay small.
As far as the other Ivy I would say NO, NO, NO. I have been out to give estimates to repair ivy damage that you would not believe..whole walls being consumed by the Ivy and the only thing left holding it together was THE IVY..
I tell people Ive to masonry is like cancer to humans once its in there its hard to get out and the getting out destroys a lot of what its attached to...

Answer 7

They say no, dont put Ivy on masonary work as the vines do something to the mortar holding the bricks together.

Answer 8

No. It will over time eat away the mortar in between the bricks.

Answer 9

challenging step. research with a search engine. that can help!

Answer 10

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