Can Ivy and/or Moss cause damage to your brick or siding?

Answer 1

Absolutely! While the look may be very pretty and call up images of quaint English cottages, etc., Thorndale ivy (one of the most commonly seen) and similar can be particularly destructive to mortar and brick when allowed to attach itself. Vine growth of this type adheres to structures very securely and once established it is near impossible to remove all remnant of the attachment pads which latch onto your home's exterior. Further, when allowed to thrive, these ivy's will not only force mortar out of joints to be replaced by it's own runners, causing leaks during rains and points of pest intrusion, it has enough power to destabilize and destroy entire walls, and invade cracks/wallspaces/windows until appearing inside your home, creeping out of wall outlets, window frames, etc. The damage potential isn't limited to the exterior, either; if it can get into wall spaces or attics, it gets enough growth energy from the outside plant area to continue expanding in total darkness, and is known to cause electrical shorts or phone/cable issues as it slowly tears wiring apart.

Mosses, while less destructive in the same way, have their own drawbacks, primarily the retention of constant moisture against the finish surfaces of your home. This can lead to rot and water leaks of all kinds.

They may look nice, but keep them off your home!

Answer 2

The ivy has roots that will find there way into cracks. As this occurs, the cracks will be made larger. Eventually water will find its way in behind the brick to the wood frame. At that point, wood rot and falling bricks becomes an issue. The moss growing means that you have a moisture problem. You need to solve that by getting more sun to the wall.

Answer 3

I prefer Boston Ivy. That's what we have growing on the side of our two-story home. The leaves are big and lush green until Fall. Then they turn a crimson red and fall off the vine. It also bears little fruit (like blueberries) that the birds love to eat but they also attract honey bees late in the season for one to two weeks. Also, the little sprouts easily root themselves when they fall into fertile soil below--no need to purchase more. So far, there has been no damage to the mortar. The vine grows by sending out new sprouts that have tiny suction-cup like extensions on them (hard to completely remove, at times). I do have English Ivy in the backyard growing on a fence, and that grows a bit faster and spreads faster then the Boston variety. It does stay green to greenish-brown all year, maintaining its leaves. But I question how you will get the English Ivy to "hold onto" the brick to get started because they don't have the grasping little feet like the Boston Ivy does. On our fence, we had to tie a lattice work of plastic-coated wire (used for weed whackers) so the ivy could be manually twisted around the wire and tied on with soft ties. You might have to use a large trellis. As for planting either one: Start with some good, fertile soil and water when dry (once established). Space every foot or so apart for English; Boston grows into a tough, woody-like bush so they can be planted maybe four or five feet apart (one plant, over time, can cover a third of the house in five to seven years).

Answer 4

Ivy--no
Moss can cause heavy staining of the brick or siding. Some siding can be washed, depending on the top coat of paint or protectant. Brick will just stain. Moss will go into the porous areas of the brick and can't be washed away.

Answer 5

Ivy can weaken the morter of the brick and cause it to crack and fall. I'm not sure of moss because it doesn't have those little anchoring things that ivy has.

Answer 6

Moss On Brickwork

Answer 7

Ivy can get sustenance from the lime in the mortar joints, and then you are left with sand and no binding ,water enters the porus jointwork,and you get damp walls. frost can crack the moisture laden bricks, causing " spalling " where the outer layer of brick drops off.
Get rid of the ivy.

Answer 8

Absolutely! And oddly enough, it can grow in your siding without the roots touching the ground. It happened at my house and I thought I would never kill the stuff.

Answer 9

sometimes ...