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Repair ivy damaged brick wall

b.boop178b.boop178 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Rain is coming into my home through a brick wall covered by ivy. How can I repair the concrete in between the bricks to stop the rain coming into my home please?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You need a builder. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Indeed.
    The ivy wasn't the problem - the mortar was.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    If this is a genuine question the answer is remove the ivy scrape out the motar, repoint and maybe treat the wall with Thompsons waterproofer
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited October 2020
    Depending on the construction of the wall, you can’t just go scraping out the mortar. You need to know what you’re doing ... you could compromise the structure of the wall. 

    Also, at the same time the wall is repointed, any spalled bricks need replacing. 

    I repeat ... it is a job for a competent builder.  Get recommendations from reliable people in the area. 

    If attempted by an amateur it could invalidate your buildings insurance. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Yes @Dovefromabove is right. Being married to plumber who also used to do building I tend to forget that what is simple to me might not be for others!
  • parrotfeather*parrotfeather* Posts: 188
    It is worth mentioning that you should not just pull the ivy off the wall.  First cut through the thick stems at the base then leave it to die on the wall before trying to pull it off, otherwise you are likely to remove the remaining mortar with the aerial roots which dig into the wall.  Don't do anything hasty and get a quote from a builder.  The ivy is actually helping to keep the rain out at the moment so when it comes off your wall will be even wetter until it is pointed and any spalled bricks treated. 
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    This sounds like a question for a diy forum, rather than a gardening forum, to be honest...
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I would also doubt the rain is coming through the wall, unless for some strange reason you have a single skin brick wall it would be highly unlikely. a blocked gutter or rising damp would be much more likely to be causing water issues that rain coming through a brick wall.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's certainly not a job for anyone unqualified to deal with it correctly, and as @Dovefromabove says - you could make it much worse by invalidating insurance. 
    I doubt, if it's that bad, that Thompson's Water Seal would be any use either. Not up to that kind of job, although a useful product.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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