How to Remove Ivy Without Damaging Brick

Ivy on brick might not be the look you want.

The brick areas on the outside of your home might have a certain natural and unique look when they are covered in ivy. However, the longer you let that ivy grow, the less likely it is that you will ever be able to completely remove it. You might also get to the point where you no longer enjoy the ivy on the exterior brick surface like you used to. Removing the ivy can be a heavy duty job, but with effort you can eventually reveal your beautiful brick underneath.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden scraper
• Nylon scrubber
• Bucket
• Water
• Detergent
• Scrub brush
• Propane torch

Instructions

1. Pull as much of the ivy off the brick as you can with your hands. Use very little force or else you could damage areas of the bricks that have roots growing between them.

2. Scrape your brick with a wooden scraper. This helps remove stems that stayed behind and roots that are growing into the brick.

3. Dry scrub the brick with a nylon scrubber to remove the tendrils. Keep scrubbing until no more tendrils are coming loose.

4. Dip the scrubber into a bucket filled with water and a few drops of detergent. Scrub some more. The detergent solution helps loosen stuck-on tendrils.

5. Scrub with a stiffer scrub brush if there are stubborn tendrils of ivy on the brick. Be aware that the scrub brush could scratch your brick.

6. Scorch away roots that just won't leave with a propane torch. Test this method on an unseen area of the brick to make sure it won't leave a burn mark.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear protective goggles when using a propane torch.

References

• Danny Lipford: How to Remove Ivy from Walls: Julie Day