Ivy removal and maintenance in Richmond upon Thames
Ivy and other climbers can be a wonderful feature of your property. However, they need to be taken care of regularly, else they can become a nuisance at best, and cause serious damage to your property at worst. The problems commonly caused by ivy include brickwork damage, damage to the roof, tiles, window frames, and guttering. Our experienced specialists offer ivy removal and management in and around Richmond upon Thames, and will be happy to assist you.
This is how to recognize if you have a problem with ivy that might require maintenance work or removal: Weakening brickwork - common English ivy supports itself by a structure of aerial roots, but these usually aren’t strong enough to penetrate sound masonry. However, if your brickwork or mortar has cracks or crevices, this is where ivy can penetrate deeper into the structure, and cause damage, including crumbling of the mortar and pulling out bricks. This allows moisture to penetrate and damage the brickwork further. Ivy should therefore only be allowed to grow on well-built, sound masonry, and kept away from weakened brick. This can be a particular concern for older homes, where the mortar is lime-based, because newer, cement-based mortar is stronger and more resistant to ivy’s roots. Roof leaks and damage - unmanaged ivy can overgrow and lift or create cracks in the roofing tiles, soffits, fascias, and bargeboards. It can lift and loosen these structural elements, allowing moisture to penetrate, which can lead to additional problems with mould or parasites, and compromise the weather proofing of your property. Leaking roof or interior moisture around areas with overgrown ivy are good indication that property requires ivy maintenance. Ivy growing on wooden or mortarless walls - If your property features a dry-stacked stone wall, or wooden wall or fence, you should be extra vigilant about growing ivy. The roots can easily find and penetrate cracks in these structures, causing damage, such as pulling out stones in the dry-stacked walls, or enabling rot in the wood. Additionally, ivy can also serve as a habitat for insects that damage and attack wood. Ivy growing on gutters or paintwork - you should never allow to grow ivy on gutters and paintwork, as over time it will cause damage leading to rust and degradation. Keep ivy to areas with sound, mortared brickwork, and remove any offending tendrils as soon as you notice them. To keep your ivy well-maintained and limited to grow in areas you want it to grow, please call our experts today to arrange ivy maintenance and removal in Richmond upon Thames and surrounding areas. How do I remove ivy growing on walls and masonry? The first step is to cut off the stem of the plant as close to the ground as possible with a saw or secateurs. If you are doing this DIY ensure you are wearing gloves and long-sleeved clothing. Next start by removing the top growth by pulling it down and cutting off piece by piece. It is important to make sure you don’t pull out any loose bricks or mortar during the process. Once the top growth is removed, you need to scrape off the remaining tendrils with a combination of a scraper and a tough wire brush. The final step is to remove the roots from the ground to prevent further growth. Historically, it has been common practice to poison the ivy roots using ammonium sulphamate. However, please note that as of 2008, ammonium sulphamate and products containing it have become unlicensed, and therefore effectively banned in the UK. The correct way to remove the roots is therefore to dig them out with a shovel and a fork, digging as deep as you reasonably can. The Richmond Tree Surgeons provide ivy management and removal services and would be happy to assist you - give us a call today to get your free quote for ivy removal in Richmond upon Thames, Twickenham, East Sheen, Chiswick, or any of the nearby areas. |
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WHY CHOOSE US
We are a small, family-run business. So when you give us a call, you can be sure you will receive a friendly, and professional treatment. We work with you to understand exactly what you need, and provide you the perfect service to fit your requirements. In our business, we are driven by the following principles:
Transparency
With us you know before we start the job how much you'll be paying. No gimmicks and no tricks, no hidden taxes, outcall charges, one-off fees. If we find something unexpected during our work, for example a signs of a disease in the tree, we will explain to you the facts, and leave it up to you to decide if you want to finish the the job at the original quoted price, or if you'd like to hire us to provide any additional services.
Quality
All our specialists are fully qualified and insured to carry out the work, so you can have complete peace of mind. We continuously invest in modern tools and equipment, as well as the education of our specialists in the latest techniques and trends in tree and hedge care. This allows us to provide an efficient and quick service, with minimal disturbance to the surroundings. We also provide free waste removal, so when we leave your property it will look clean and neat.
Competitive pricing
We strive to provide you with very cost efficient service, while never compromising on quality or safety. We explain exactly what is included in the quote, and make sure the price is final, unless you specifically request additional services. That way you can be sure there will be no nasty surprises on your bill once the job is finished.
How does the process work?
When you give us a call, we will ask you for a bit more details about the tree services you need, to establish the overall potential scope of work, as well as what equipment our specialists might need to get the job done. Shortly thereafter, one of our qualified tree surgeons will call you directly to give you a price estimate, and discuss your availability for a no-obligation, free consultation. At the consultation, we will give you an upfront, final price quotation and explain in detail what is included in the price. At that time, if you are happy with the quote, you can choose to let us proceed with the job. The whole process is very simple and efficient, depending on our availability and size of job, we can provide tree removal and pruning services with 1-2 days lead time. We provide emergency callouts for tree removal all around Richmond upon Thames, Twickenham, Kingston Upon Thames, Surbiton, and Norbiton.
Transparency
With us you know before we start the job how much you'll be paying. No gimmicks and no tricks, no hidden taxes, outcall charges, one-off fees. If we find something unexpected during our work, for example a signs of a disease in the tree, we will explain to you the facts, and leave it up to you to decide if you want to finish the the job at the original quoted price, or if you'd like to hire us to provide any additional services.
Quality
All our specialists are fully qualified and insured to carry out the work, so you can have complete peace of mind. We continuously invest in modern tools and equipment, as well as the education of our specialists in the latest techniques and trends in tree and hedge care. This allows us to provide an efficient and quick service, with minimal disturbance to the surroundings. We also provide free waste removal, so when we leave your property it will look clean and neat.
Competitive pricing
We strive to provide you with very cost efficient service, while never compromising on quality or safety. We explain exactly what is included in the quote, and make sure the price is final, unless you specifically request additional services. That way you can be sure there will be no nasty surprises on your bill once the job is finished.
How does the process work?
When you give us a call, we will ask you for a bit more details about the tree services you need, to establish the overall potential scope of work, as well as what equipment our specialists might need to get the job done. Shortly thereafter, one of our qualified tree surgeons will call you directly to give you a price estimate, and discuss your availability for a no-obligation, free consultation. At the consultation, we will give you an upfront, final price quotation and explain in detail what is included in the price. At that time, if you are happy with the quote, you can choose to let us proceed with the job. The whole process is very simple and efficient, depending on our availability and size of job, we can provide tree removal and pruning services with 1-2 days lead time. We provide emergency callouts for tree removal all around Richmond upon Thames, Twickenham, Kingston Upon Thames, Surbiton, and Norbiton.
