Ivy removal - builder, gardener or tree surgeon?

GDB2222

I foolishly let ivy grow up the side of our house. It’s brick, about 90 years old. I easily cut all the stems, And I wrestled the ivy off the house, but I left a lot of small bits embedded into the bricks. Only now, 5 years later, are these mostly getting dried out enough to remove. The leftover bits are only moderately unsightly and not damaging anything, so I have not been too concerned. 

20122013

Albermarle said:

20122013 said:

twopenny said:

'Getting it off around the gutters needs to be done by hand so it doesn't dislodge the gutter. Get them cleaned while they are up there as the leaves could cause a problem with the downpipe.'

May I suggest to let them know that you would need photos to show what they have cleaned eg  gutter and roof emptied and cleaned or it may show any repairs needed etc and show close up and overall off the roof  (and not just showing you how much 'rubbish' they have collected') so you know what work had been carried out.

We had some ivy that got behind the fascia boards and even behind some lead flashing, opening up gaps that could have caused leaks. 

Hello Albermarle, I agree, and I was not suggesting to open anything Instead I was saying  if they get their gutters or roof cleaned ask to see some photos of where it had been cleaned, so you know whether there are any damaged caused by the ivy, etc, and you will know the state of it.

Savvy_Sue

We have since had the house repainted, but I rather liked the traces of 'dead' ivy going up the walls after we'd removed it. However, I didn't like the way it grew behind the rendering and pushed it away from the brick behind it ... cue nasty damp patches. 

Our gardener cut it off and left it to die, and we've not let it re-grow.