Originally Posted By: Jason M. Glass This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I live in a brick condominium where the exterior is covered with ivy. The ivy has been around for 30 years and is well maintained. Some residents are worried about the morter being ruined by the ivy and some would like to remove the ivy completely. The building is approx 60 years old and from my perspective the brick and morter looks pretty good.
I am afraid that if we remove the ivy this would be even worse for the exterior and do more damage. Any literature or links you could provide would be great. 
Originally Posted By: gbeaumont This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi Jason,
I don't have any links to share with you as I'm away from my desktop, however Ivy is generally considered to promote the deterioration of Bricks and mortar, firstly it traps moisture against the side of the structure and impedes ventilation of the surface, secondly Ivy "Branches" put out tendrils which latch into the cracks and crevices of the masonry and further erode the surface.
As a point of reference keep in mind the ivy will retain moisture against the wall. Ivy will also act as cover against the drying affect of winds. The BIA does make mention of ivy's potential for damage in this technical paper: