Effects on ivy on concrete walls?

over a time period of decades, would it be possible for ivy to seriously damage concrete walls? i'm asking because we plan to let ivy cover the outside of our house for insulation against the harsh afternoon sun. would this be a good idea?





thanks!

Effects on ivy on concrete walls?
I don't think so. They may leave some residue or block the sun from fading it a bit (UV fading) but nothing a big power washer could take off.





Ivy walls I think = nice!
Reply:Ivy is a nasty climber in that it strips cement out of the mortice joints, rips paint off walls, penetrates timber and climbs into wall cavities and roof spaces.


It may look good, but the damage it does to your house is not worth it.
Reply:Here's what happens when ivy covers a wall. The little claws that the ivy has make just the tiniest hole in the concrete. That hole gets water in it in the winter when it rains or snows. Then the water freezes and the hole gets bigger. Multiply this times thousands of tiny holes getting bigger each year each freeze and you can see what problems can happen. So, no I would not cover a concrete wall with ivy.
Reply:Bad idea unless you want mold, mildew, bugs. When you decide to remove it, the stucco goes with it.
Reply:We had a concrete wall completely get mangled by an old ivy. The pond lady is right, as the ivy grows, it gets into the mortar joints of the wall and lifts up the concrete block. This is actullay over a period of 30-40 years so I wouldn't really worry about it too much.