I am not a technical savvy person in the foliage world. However, I did see
a few things when I went through a home inspection course in Dallas area,
some schoolhouse, some real home inspections. Any kind of vegetative canopy
that clings to any kind of wooden structure will tend to invervene in that
structure. Additionally, water rot and mildew will take over, hidden from
your eyes by such foliage. And, will eventually eat away at all that it
touches. If your fascia, fascia trim, soffit, or roof deck underlayment is
wooden, take heed. Cannot overemphasize, you're playing with needless home
repair due to owner oversight.

Natural shade is a good thing for your house, actual foliage covering is not
recommended.

For tree fire concerns, the formula 50' plus the height of the tree should
be the minimum horizontal distance from your house in a wooded area where
fire may spread from tree to tree. If not, just bear in mind the fall of
the tree if felled by heavy winds.

Additionally, find it hard to believe a brick wall is passing that much
heat, as you communicate, to the house internals. The brick will tend to
"hold" the heat for much longer than a wooden/cement/vinyl siding wall. The
only direct contact the brick should have is via a small metal strap every
so often to the wall framing. There should be good sized air gap in between
other than that. Nevermind the underlying material between the air gap and
the framed wall, and the insulation in the framed wall. Guessing the wall
generally faces west. If so, you should seek a building and/or construction
newsgroup for their recommendations at the very least.

More likely, your attic is heated up much more due to lack of shade cover
during the latter day west sun. The attic cannot dissipate the heat coming
from the heated air gap from the west wall facing brick and roof on the west
side of the house. And the attic is poorly ventilated in my opinion. Most
of the heat should dissipate beginning around an hour or two after the sun
sets, and then the house should settle down to lowering its temperature.
This time period is when the building gives up most of its absorbed heat to
the atmosphere.

In Central Texas, an un-air conditioned home will remain hot and
uncomfortable for the entire night during 90 degree plus F temps during the
day. In some cases, until the wee hours of the morning if hotter during the
day. Humidity is also a factor. Opening all the windows and use of
stand-alone fans in windows is recommended to facilitate cooling the house
off. Lack of use of bed sheets, blankets, and even clothing worn to bed can
help in the sleep dept. This has nothing to do with trees, shade, brick
walls, or otherwise.

There is sealer/paint used in basements of very white color that may reflect
more of the sun's radiated heated than plain brick. May not look consistent
if the rest of the brick on other exterior walls is not the same color.
Painful choice. My doghouse, halfway in the unlevel ground on the opposite
door side, has the cinder block walls painted with this stuff inside and
out. Local realtor calls it a bomb shelter. The 2 dogs go in it around 2
p.m. until around 7 p.m., or until I return from work and let them in the
house so far.
--
Jonny
"Doug Lassiter" wrote in message
ups.com...
I took down a (seriously damaged Az Ash) shade tree this winter, and I
have a brick wall that is now getting full afternoon sun. It's still
hot at midnight! So I'm interested in an attractive climbing vine that
will cover and provide natural shade. I don't have room for large
shrubs there. Recommendations?

I gather from Neil Sperry, etc. that Boston Ivy (which isn't a real
ivy) is one good central Texas choice. The fact that it's deciduous
means I get heat in the winter but shade in the summer. I'm told it
climbs brick without help. Vigorous, fast covering. But is it nice
looking? Red leaves in fall are kinda nice, but are the bare vines in
the winter ugly? OK to plant in midsummer?

Yes, I can read all about it on the web, but I'm wondering if there are
any gotchas/horror stories. (Haven't found any yet ...) Other ideas? I
really want something that doesn't need trellising/support.