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Clematis and damp walls

gordon@thecoastgordon@thecoast Posts: 6
in Problem solving

I am new to the forum and have a clematis related question. We have a clematis which has been growing on trellis on an east facing single brick garage wall for 40 years. Can this plant cause penetrating dampness? I have attached a photo. Thanks for your help.

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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @gordon@thecoast I am unable to answer your question as such,  I believe the RHS did some research some years ago. It involved Ivy on a wall and the conclusion was that it actually protected the wall. May be someone will have heard of this, or perhaps you could try the RHS directly if you have a membership? Welcome!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • gordon@thecoastgordon@thecoast Posts: 6
    Thanks for your reply.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Are you asking the question because your garage is damp inside? Climbing plants are generally held to be safe and may keep walls dryer than not.

    Is there a damp proof course in the brickwork? If not, it may be rising damp from any foundations.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • gordon@thecoastgordon@thecoast Posts: 6
    Thanks for reply, the garage is single brick, and painted on the inside. There are signs of flaking paint on the internal brickwork.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Clematis do not cling to brickwork or stonework but have tendrils that wind round supports such as wires, trellis or other plants so it won't be causing penetrating damp.

    It may be a lack of ventilation from having the wall so well clothed but I suspect it's more a case of rising damp from a non existant, inadequate or damaged damp proof course in your garage.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Thanks for replying. I think that's probably (but don't know for certain) that could be damp coming up from the ground as I had that flaking paint problem in a previous leanto outhouse without a damp course. It doesn't solve the problem but I just painted over it with a water sealer paint.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • gordon@thecoastgordon@thecoast Posts: 6
    Thanks for you comments, the flaking paint is in the centre of the wall , and does not appear to be coming from the ground.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Our last house was a Belgian farmhouse with no damp proofing till we arrived and got it sorted.  The damp affected paper and paint visibly at mid height but further inspection showed it to be throughout.   

    Took ages to dry out the walls once we got a new damp proof course injected.  Got excited and painted too soon and bingo, the middle of the walls flaked first.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Depending on the construction of the walls, it could be that the problem has been caused by the interior walls having been painted with a type of paint containing polymers  that don’t allow the structure to ‘breathe’ and traps any moisture behind the paintwork resulting in bubbling/flaking. 

    This is particularly likely to happen in a garage or outbuilding which may not have been built with a damp proof course. 

    This type of wall should be painted with traditional emulsion that doesn’t have polymers/waterproofing type properties

    @raisingirl may be able to advise further. 

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





  • gordon@thecoastgordon@thecoast Posts: 6
    Thanks 
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