[Vigilanteman]

Ran into something really weird when I got a better offer on a homeowner's policy. It was a reputable brand of insurance replacing another reputable brand, but they insisted on me removing English ivy growing along a brick wall near a slope toward the house.

I pointed out that I planted the ivy to keep seepage out of the basement. Ivy has been used for hundreds of years along walls to draw moisture out of the soil. Mine was highly effective against doing exactly that. We bought the house at a slightly discounted rate because the basement had the beginnings of mold problems near the foundation which is facing a downslope. We moved the drain field just enough to eliminate those problems naturally by building up the area around the foundation with mulch and sandy soil and planting English ivy to draw moisture out.

But it was either remove the ivy or no insurance, so I told them to stick it and I'd stay with the current, more expensive insurer.

[John 3_19-21]

Some types of Ivy can be destructive. This ivy can grow under concrete sidewalks, up stone walls and under siding causing some pretty severe damage over time.