If one insists on planting stuff so that it can climb on one’s house, one is only asking for trouble. Not only can we not see what the vegetation is physically doing to the house, but it provides an easy protected access to the roof structure for an assortment of critters----including rats. This giant kiwi monster is so camouflaged that he is barely discernible from the background----and might have gone un-noticed but for the keen eye of the inspector. This house had lots of rats, and while the kiwi looks better than rats, it is in this case no better than rats. This sort of vegetation is a favorite pathway into the structure for Carpenter Ants as well. So when your Seattle Home Inspector (or any inspector in any area) recommends that you to keep this stuff cut away from your home, please pay attention----or the kiwi monster may just eat your house too. Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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Rats ... eeeeeewwww. Whenever I see vegetation climbing up a house I cringe. What are people thinking?
Kiwis have incredibly cool and exotic looking vines. I have one but it is not growing on my house. It is tilting the fence however.
Eyez your Kiwi Monster. I like eating shingles. Reminds me of kookiez...
Cynthia, me thinks this one got a little out of control over the years :)
Steve, better the fence than the house I guess
Michael, I was thinking Oscar the Grouch :)
For anyone that wonders if I am lost, I will just be unable to respond to comments for a while :)
Kudzu in the south. Just ask a Cabbgae Patch Kid.
Charles - I live in kudzu country. Not only will it eat a house, it can consume cars that are parked on the sides of the expressway. Don't think I'd like the kiwi monster.
Stupid question- is that what kiwis grown on?
Charles, my handyguy, Max, is coming tomorrow to take a bunch of ivy off my garage! It got totally out of control.
Like Kate and John I'm in Kudzu land which is quite formidable. Of course they do make jellies, relishes and such with it. Ivy can also be awesome.
Sue of Robin and Sue
Charles,
You plant and woo laa a few years later you have a roof ornament. I am seeing so much of this. People don't see what a plat will do in say 10 - 20 or more years.
Don
Did you stop for some fruit?
I detect a bit of photo play from our creative Seattle home inspector:) That's the problem with plants out your way Charles, they become rat ladders.
James, one of the Kiwis eating the roof even speaks.
Living in the concrete jungle of NYC all my life, I didn't evn know what kudzu was until I moved to the South.
Now that I do, I agree with you completely.....It's better than rats, but it's still not good!
Hi Charles, I agree any vegetation on or near a house can be dangerous to the house. Gosh there pretty when they are little, but they grow up into big monsters.
Mr Charles,
Cannot wait to get my footsies on those vines.
Nutsy
I don't know Nuts. You might chip your pretty toe nail polish you are trying to pawn off Barbara's friends.
But it shades the roof in the summer, helping those pesky energy bills... NOT!
How could something so tasty be such a monster?
Remember when Saturdays were for cartoons Charles?
Paul
Mr Charles,
I am paging you and you are not here. Is you still alive. PS, I dislikes Mrs Kate two.
Nutsy
Kate, no Kiwi's down there?
John, most of them are kept under better control
Reuben, if allowed they will climb on anything I guess
Pat, it only takes a few minutes with ivy :)
Sue, and there isn't much to do with ivy
Don, so true---it is just a little thing in a little pot in the beginning
Jay, none on this one
Jim----just a little :)
Kate, this kiwi doesn't have any teeth and yet it will have no trouble eating this house
Craig, every species has its rats:)
Dale, you are right----has nothing to do with kiwi's in particular----now kudzu is a different matter
Nutsy, go figure
Kate, you should see how silly he/she looks wearing the stuff
Bill, not likely:)
Paul----you are so big today :)
Nutsy---not to worry I am sure the feeling is mutual