Houses covered in ivy are an attractive sight to see. Who hasn’t gazed with adoration when passing by old buildings covered in the green plant? Many rural areas in the UK have countless such houses. Today, more and more people are also willing to cover their homes in ivy because of the calming green colour and to enhance their dull looking houses.
But when you start to plan such a creeper, some important questions come to light, like "Can ivy damage your house?" or "Is ivy bad for walls?" And if you, too, are asking yourself these and other similar questions, you’re in luck. In this article, we talk about ivy on houses, and if and when it can cause structural damage.
When you’re considering growing ivy on the walls of your house, you should think about several factors. If you’ve heard that ivy can damage walls, you should know that this isn’t entirely true. Species that are more aggressive in clinging to the walls may worsen the condition of already damaged walls.
But if your home is made from sound masonry or is newly built without cracks and weakened mortar, even the aggressive kind won’t be strong enough to damage the structure. So, breath easy, your home will be safe.
If your house is safe to plant any type of ivy without worrying about damage, the next step you should take is to pick the species. Furthermore, you have to check with your local council if all species are allowed in your area because, in some English towns, ivy is forbidden.
English ivy is the more aggressive and destructive type that we have in England. It is known to have inflicted damage to the walls of old houses.
So, to answer the commonly asked question, “Does ivy damage walls?”, it depends on the walls. Well-built and new structures do not have a problem with any type of ivy. While already crumbling bricks and mortar can be affected by the aerial roots of the English ivy.
Another common question is “Does ivy damage brickwork?” The answer is the same - it depends on the wall. The modern mortar that is used in construction work today is stronger than the one used hundreds of years ago. So, new brickwork is in no danger for climbing ivy growing on it.
The two most preferred species in the UK are Virginia creeper and Boston ivy. Both are self-climbing, but their aerial roots aren't strong and aggressive enough to cause structural damage, even to weakened mortar and bricks. What is more, these plants are the perfect way to hide any defects or unsightly parts on walls.
Keep in mind that these self-climbing plants should be regularly trimmed and maintained. Otherwise, they may quickly cover your windows, door, fill your gutters and even reach and block your chimney. If you decide on growing self-climbers on your house, schedule regular maintenance so it’s kept nice and tidy.
There are some things you can do to be even more cautious when growing ivy on your walls. Keep reading as we’ve listed some tips below for you.
The opinions here are split. There are generally two answers to this question based on people’s experience with ivy growing on a house and several pieces of research. An Oxford University research study on the subject matter concluded that having ivy on buildings with sound masonry can actually protect them against severe weather conditions.
If you like how ivy looks and want to cover your house with it but you’re worried about whether it will protect or damage your house, you can call a chartered surveyor and get their professional opinion.
If you decide to add some greenery to your house’s exterior and landscape design, we have prepared some tips for you. Make sure to follow them and you’ll get to enjoy the benefits and beauty of having a green facade without the worry of potential property damage.
Here are our tips for growing ivy on walls:
Places to avoid covering with ivy:
Whether your house has passed inspection or not, you can do one thing to prevent any damage the climbing plant may do to your property. Using a frame to guide the plant and keep away from the walls can get the job done.
There are several means you can use:
You can use either method to also train ivy to climb against fences, pergolas, gazebos, etc.
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