In our house we’re really big Phillies fans.  We follow them all year long, watch nearly every game all season, deck ourselves out in Phillies hats, shirts, jackets, backpacks, towels and apparel, and try to get to at least a few games a year.  Heck, some of my younger son’s first words were “Chay Ut-eey”, which apparently is 18-mo-old speak for Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley.

We’re such big Phillies fans in fact, that my now four-year-old son refers to any baseball game regardless of who is playing as “The Phillies”.  I have to point out that no, these teams aren’t all the Phils.  Those navy pinstripes belong to some other team from New York, those red hats with the little bird on the bat are from St Louis, and the “LA” on those blue hats stands for Los Angeles, not Larry Andersen.

It’s very cute and endearing in a little kid sort of way.  But when adults use the wrong words and terminology, not only is it not so cute, it can lead to all sorts of confusion.  It’s important that we know what we’re talking about.

So I want to spend a minute or two this week clearing the record on some basic terms, specifically “flagstone”.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten calls from new prospects asking me to install a new “slate patio”.  With a few specific exceptions, a “slate” patio is not what they’re looking for.

What clients typically mean to say is “flagstone” patio.  And that’s where the confusion begins.  Not to mention the fact that the misuse of the term “slate” is a nails-on-the-blackboard major pet peeve of mine.  So without further build-up, here’s a brief run-down on terminology.

“Flagstone” is the umbrella term for any flat stone that can be set in a flatwork or horizontal application.  Nearly any patio or walkway using a natural stone material consists of flagstone.  There are endless amounts of different types of flagstone, including slate.  But for a variety of reasons which I won’t go into on this post, I generally wouldn’t recommend slate.

Here in Southeastern PA, or nearly anywhere else on the east coast, the majority of flagstones we use are PA graystone or bluestone.  This is a very dense, durable, sedimentary sandstone that comes mostly from the Scranton area of PA, parts of upstate New York and Connecticut.  For most of my flagstone projects this is the default flagstone that I use due to its durability and affordability.  Three out of four times when the customer says “slate”, this is what they mean.

But flagstone is not limited to just PA graystone.  I could go on and on with various types of stone, but there is limestone, quartzite, mica schist, granite, and yes slate.  And much, much more.  And selections vary depending on what part of the country you come from.  But no matter what geologic type of stone it is, no matter what the size and/or shape of the stones are, if it’s flat, and you’re building a patio or walkway, then it’s flagstone.

Just like “Baseball” is the general term and the “Phillies” are a specific baseball team, “Flagstone” is a general term and “Slate” is specific type of flagstone.

So there you have it.  When you call to inquire about my services and that new patio or walkway you’ve been thinking about, be sure to ask for a “flagstone” material, not slate.  I’ll be happy to go in to much more detail on the various types of flagstone when we meet, let you know what type of stone would best complement your existing house and landscaping features, and what the costs are for various types of stone.  And who knows, maybe “slate” is what you’re looking for, but lets at least keep our options open.

And if its summer, and I don’t answer the phone, it’s probably because I’m busy watching the Phils with the kids.  Now if we can just get some offense going consistently this year…

It’s approximately 40 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.  That countdown is what gets me through the winter.

But in the mean time we have to survive the cold temperatures and most likely a fair amount of ice and snow.  And so does your hardscaping.

I get asked all the time what the best way is to keep walkways and patio surfaces ice-free during the winter months.  No matter what the surface material is, just a little bit of ice or compacted snow can really be a safety hazard.  Even a well-shoveled surface can become slippery quickly as the surrounding snow melts and re-freezes.  Something needs to be done.

But first, what not to do.  Remember these three words:  “Rock Salt, Bad.”  Sure it’s relatively inexpensive, and yes, it does keep the walkway ice-free.  But it also will destroy nearly any hardscaping surface.  Rock salt, or sodium chloride to be more precise, is extremely corrosive.  It will cause mortar joints to deteriorate, cause flagstones to flake, discolor bricks or stones, eat away at concrete, and potentially harm nearby vegetation.  And it’s bad for the overall environment.  And it can wreak havoc on your four-legged friends’ paws.  To summarize again, “Rock Salt, Bad.”

There are however a number of alternatives that can help keep walkways safe without harming the hardscaping, your pets’ health, or the environment. 

Most hardware stores, home centers, and even pet stores will sell some version of “chloride-free” de-icers.  The active ingredient in these products is generally Calcium Magnesium Acetate, or “CMA” as it’s sometimes referred.  A 20-lb bag typically runs in the neighborhood of $20, -- yes, it is slightly more expensive, but considering how you’re saving that big ticket patio you just had installed, a few extra bucks is well worth it.  There’s a number of CMA-based products out there, and they’re often marketed as pet-friendly de-icers.  Just ask your local supplier what they have available, and be sure to stay away from the chloride-based products.

And speaking of pets, another chloride-free alternative is good ol’ fashioned kitty litter.  Kitty litter does lack some of the ice-melting qualities of CMA-based products, it tends to work a little slower, but it is inexpensive and provides welcome grit and traction to any icy surface.

Basic sand is another inexpensive, environmentally-friendly alternative.  And since that dry-set paver or brick patio was swept with sand upon completion anyway, it certainly won’t hurt things as the snow disappears come spring.

Of course, there’s also my favorite strategy – keep your fingers crossed for a mild winter and repeat this mantra, “pitchers and catchers, pitchers and catchers, pitchers and catchers…”  Spring training (and warmer weather) is getting closer by the day!  In the mean time, stay warm and stay safe.