Cleaning ivy off bricks

[RichD1]

Just moved into a Victorian semi and the previous owners had allowed ivy to grow up the front wall almost to the first floor windows.

I've removed all the foliage and rot branches and am now left with the small little roots which have attached themselves firmly to the face of the bricks.

Is there anything that will remove them as I want to get the front re-pointed and at the moment these small roots are making it look a mess.

Any recommendations will be gratefully received.

Richard

 

[garryv]

I've cleaned this off a house before with brushes and lots of elbow grease and then used a wire brush and even a small palm sander where it was really tough to get off. Only thing I would say is that on a Victorian property you may end up taking off some of the brick faces doing this so you'd have to be careful, go slowly until you find something that works but doesn't take off the brick face (painful as it is) - the property I did it on was more modern and as the owners were not too fussed about the final look of the brick face afterwards, they just wanted the tendrils removing. Good luck!

 

[Tigercubrider]

If you can, leave it a while so the living ivy dies off and loses a bit of it's grip
Early 70's my parents removed loads of ivy off a 100 year old wall and the advice then was to kill the plant at the roots, then peel off as much as would come . Then after a while the kids (brother and me) were detailed a small section per day to clear

 

[Mr Chibs]

OK, I'm just doing this at the moment.

I think if you can kill it, leave it, then remove as mentioned it probably easier.
Sadly, I didn't do this. I've tried blow torch, paint gun, wire brush and scraper.

FInally had success with angle grinder and wire brush attachment, like this:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-wir...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLyM6pKg8tUCFUyI7QodBmcPMw

It's not buggered up the brick... ours are painted, I will be doing the mortar bits in the next few days.

It shifted it in no time!

You can probably get similar wire brush fitment for a standard drill if you haven't got a grinder.

 

[RichD1]

Sounds like it's going to be a PITA job!!!

All ivy has been removed some months ago and after a lot of scraping what is left is the small tendril roots which attaches the main stems to the wall.

At the moment we've got the following methods;

Bleach solution
Low heat blowtorch
Brick acid
Rotary wire brush attachment.

Will give them all a go and see how it goes.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Richard