Showing posts with label nasty green stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nasty green stuff. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 August 2009

Poison Ivy

I never cease to be amazed and horrified by the way in which people let ivy inexorably destroy the very buildings they profess to love.I suppose the picture of an ivy clad cottage in the country is for many the thing of dreams.It's a pity the ivy cladding is in reality a nightmare sucking moisture from the structure in dry conditions and holding damp in, during winter. The picture shows the process of uncovering a wall that although picturesque was rapidly becoming dangerously unstable.After standing for 200 years, 20 years of ivy had completely compromised its structural integrity until its demise was imminent. The wall in the picture is now in intensive care but after a jet wash and the liberal application of lime mortar repointing the prognosis is good.