Climbing Plant on Aluminum Sidings-Dangerous?
I was looking at my ugly aluminum siding at the back of my house (3 story), and I was thinking that instead of painting/changing it, I should get a strong climbing plant and encourage it to grow on my house. will that be dangerous in terms of damage to the house?
I was looking at my ugly aluminum siding at the back of my house (3 story), and I was thinking that instead of painting/changing it, I should get a strong climbing plant and encourage it to grow on my house. will that be dangerous in terms of damage to the house?
re: ivy damaging siding. House behind mine–asbestos shingle siding, 2 stories tall (out in the burbs)–had boston ivy growing up the back. After the owner cut the ivy off at the base and it died, the damage the vines had done became obvious: the thick stems had literally pried some of the shingles off the house.
If it were me, and the space in question got lots of sun, I’d plant morning glories/moonflowers on nice tall trellises. Not dense vines that will give you bug problems and may or may not damage your house.
Once again, hysteria about the “green monster” sweeps the field. Important to remember that all climbing plants are not “ivy”. English Ivy, hedera helix, produces aerial roots that can grow into spaces in the wall and take root. Boston Ivy and Virginia Creeper are actually related to the grape vine and are Parthenocissus. They attach to the wall with little sticky pads and do not root or enter the host wall. Both hedera and parthenocissus can aid the structure by cooling in the summer and deflecting moisture/rain away from the wall in all seasons.
Modern mortars containing Portland cement are impervious to aerial roots, it is too hard to enter. Pre-1930 mortor composed of lime and sand is much softer and is vulnerable to aerial roots. Any damage to the host wall depends, on an individual basis, on the composition of the wall, the state of repair, and the plant used. To make a blanket statement that “ivy is harmful to walls” is something like saying “cars kill people”.
Another problem, at least with ivy, is that mosquitoes tend to hide in the leaves in the daytime. Also, the Asian Tiger mosquito can breed in the small amount of water that clings to the leaves. Oh, and sparrows will build nests in ivy.
It’ll attach itself to the siding and you’d probably never get the “suckers” off if you decide to remove it put it won’t actually damage the siding. However, what it is likely to do is work its way in between the siding and perhaps grow behind it as well, thus pushing the siding out. Not sure how damaging or extensive this might be. Anyone with any experience on this?
This is one of those chicken or the egg arguments, everyone seems to have an opinion, but there’s conflicting evidence on both sides as to whether or not a vine will seriously damage the side of a building.
A lot of it is going to depend on the vine that you go with. I recently removed Virginia Creeper from a wall to paint it and there is no evidence that I can see of any problems after 15 years of being in place. The siding was a clapboard type HardiPlank, no evidence of the vine growing up under it, warping it, pulling it out, etc. Wisteria can be tough and I’d avoid trumpet vine altogether, but mosty Ivy, Hops, Clematis, Honeysuckles,etc. should be fine. I’m sure there are many here who would disagree and will advise not to put vines of any type on any building, and I might agree for wood siding, but given the amount of old buildings still around who have had vines growing on them for decades with no ill-effects, I’m willing to risk it. I think the benefits outweigh the potential risks, especially if you pay attention to what’s happening with the wall. If you see the vine delaminating the siding, or causing it to bulge do to growing behind it, you can always cut it down.
Kellie’s advice is good. I’ve heard of fishing string and “invisible” mesh made of it being used to grow vines up the side of a building too. You could also research and see if the kinds of vines that use little suckers to attach to walls as opposed to twining vines will stick to vinyl. They might. It’s the twining vines that are the most heavy and damaging anyway.
People here get panicky and freaked out about vines on exterior walls but it’s used in very hot sunny places of the country and the world ALL the time. Look at Southern California, you’ll see vines on the outside of very expensive houses and buildings there. Without damage or fear of it.
Don’t do it! Very dangerous. Plant pathologists report dementia in plants after only one year of growth along aluminum siding.
Climbing vines especially the flowering type can be very pleasing to the eye and provides shade from the hot summer sun’s heat and helps keep the house cool. I suggest you grow it on wires, or on a length of fence screening material hung from the eaves so that it does not actually grow on your wall therefore not damaging it. Make sure it is trimmed several times a year to keep it flat and looking neat.
Vines do look pretty growing up buildings, but they do damage the exterior material. Vines can grow up under the siding and create holes for for rodents to enter.