[Lawn Lad]

Attached is a picture of a building that has about a 12' to 14' tall wall and runs about 125' ong with vines growing on it. I believe some if to be poison ivy, but not all of it.

We've been asked to remove the ivy which is growing into the windows, into the roof (under the roof, through the facia board behind the gutters), etc.

I'm concerned about a couple of things, and primarily worker safety when removing the vines. I'm wondering about PPE and poison ivy. I've also thought about how to quote this job, since vine removal is not necessarily in our menu item of services we perform. I'd rather not do straight T&M, so I thought a hybrid between figuring a couple of guys for several days plus material disposal, plus aggrevation factor, then a T&M for time required after the time limit. I'm not sure how to gauge the production factor on this. We can get the vines down, and then spend more time in detail prepping the wall surface by completely removing the vinces, but primary focus will be removing the bulk. Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful and appreciated.

[Matt Kulp]

Can you spray first and kill the vine so it will not be as problematic? Spray with a broadleaf spray to kill the ivy, let it sit for a couple of weeks, then go in and rip out. I still would price the way you are planning, but just help yourself and the guys and kill the ivy first.

[agla]

can you take a close up of what you think might be poison ivy? Bosto ivy is often confused with PI, maybe it is all nothing to worry about.

[AZTLANLC]

If it were poison ivy I would cut it from the base and then just wait until it dries to remove it.

[Pelican]

I agree with AZTLANLC in killing the vines first. I've done a few jobs removing vines and I always cut them about a month in advance of removing them. They release their grip on their host and are easier to pull. You also have much less risk of damaging the host. Make sure you get all the shoots, large and small where they come up out of the ground.

Poison Ivy affects people differently. Some are very susceptible to it, others are not. There are also oral medications and shots available to counteract the chemicals in the ivy. I personally can handle poison ivy and only have a reaction if I have direct contact with the sap. You may have members in your crew who are tolerant to it. Others who are very sensitive to it will still be at risk even after the plant appears dead.

[Nebraska]

Poison ivy has three leaves.

Virginia creeper has five.... some people are allergic to Virginia Creeper as well.

[agla]

Boston Ivy can be very shiny like Poison Ivy, although there are dull leafed cultivars. It has three lobes to its leaves which can vary in how much they are pronounced depending on the cultivar.

Vetchii is the most common cultivar that I see which is shiny with three pointy lobes to the leaf. Poison ivy has separate leaflets and you tend to see strong color variation in the leaf veins.

It is not really close enough to see, but that really looks like the main crop is Boston Ivy from that distance to me.

[Lawn Lad]

Here is a close up of one of the vines. I know this isn't poison ivy.

[Lawn Lad]

Here is another view of several vines near a window.

[Lawn Lad]

For grins and giggles, here is a picture from inside the building.

My concern is that I've heard that poison ivy can still cause a rash even when dead from residual oils left in the wood/vine. So killing it would still present a problem when removing it. Also, I was worried about inhalation of dust from the poison ivy, the last thing I want is a guy breathing this in and getting sick from it.

[TrickyDick]

The top pic is virginia creeper. Looks like poison ivy mixed in the botom pic.

I am the guy that doesn't get poison ivy. I remember years ago I would have to pick up hedge clippings or whatever by myself while my boss and my co-worker would sit there and watch cause they were both highly allergic.

If you or your crew are allergic you should wear some disposable Tyvek suits and gloves and throw it away when you're done. If it will be a long job plan on changing them out at lunchtime.

[4seasons]

its virginia creeper
wear a cream on your skin and then wash imediately after working.
hispanic workers Ive had aren't affected at all by it. I've asked them why and they say its not in their country. Still doesn't explain anything though.-

[Lawn Lad]

Any thoughts on inhalation and need for dust masks or respirators?

[agla]

Virginia creeper it is.

There is a special anti-poison ivy cream that you can put on. I think it is called Technu or something like that. I know guys that get PI really badly that say they don't get it at all when they use it ahead of time. ... but it ain't cheap.

I was talking to a guy I do a lot of work for the other day. He has a lot of Jamaicans working for him and he says they don't get PI at all. I know that a lot of the fair skinned guys that I worked with in the past got it extremely badly (a lot of people in the Boston area are of Irish decent and very fair skinned). Nothing scientific about it, but it seems that way.

I'm like Pelican. I can handle it quite a bit unless I have some light scratches or really roll around in it.

[Forge]

I would wear dust masks regardless, simply because of all the dust and debris that is going to get thrown into the air when you start tearing that stuff off. Who knows what has gotten trapped back behind all that vine over the years. Besides, dust masks are cheap and disposable.

As a sidenote, I am glad we don't have PI around here.