Our house has been ivy covered now for 20 years and I love watching the rain run down the leaves, knowing the old stone wall behind is warm and dry.
We have it cut every year, like a hedge, so that that it doesn't develop into the shrub form or get into the roof/windows..
What does need watching are the other entrances you can forget about: we got the roots choking up the outlet from the shower.
Wish more houses in the countryside were ivy covered rather than stark blue/white, shouting their presence across the valleys...
