Controlling ivy attachment to wall surfaces by applying paints, metal meshes and sheets

Thomsit-Ireland, F., Blanusa, T., Essah, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1349-5167 and Hadley, P. (2016) Controlling ivy attachment to wall surfaces by applying paints, metal meshes and sheets. Journal of Living Architecture, 3 (1). pp. 1-14.

Abstract/Summary

Growing ivy around buildings has benefits. However, ivy potentially damages buildings which limit its use. Options for preventing ivy attachment were investigated to provide ivy management alternatives. Indoor and outdoor experiments were conducted, where metals (Cu, Zn) and anti-graffiti paints were applied to model wall panels. Metal treatments, in both indoor and outdoor experiments, fully prevented ivy attachment. For Hedera helix, silane-based anti-graffiti paint prevented attachment in the laboratory and required under half the peak detachment force necessary to detach the control in the outdoor experiment. In conclusion, metals and silane-based paint are management possibilities for ivy attachment around buildings.