If you’ve been reading my posts regularly and perusing my website, then you probably have figured out that I am big fan of flagstone.  It’s versatile, natural, durable, comes in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes, and can be used as a key ingredient in nearly any design concept, from rustic to traditional to sleek and modern.
 
I’d like to focus this week’s post on an available finish referred to as thermal finish.  For the sake of conversation, I’ll be referring mostly to the most commonly used flagstone in our area, PA graystone.  But the terms I’ll be using can be applied to many other stone types as well.

Most of the flagstone commonly sold for residential applications is what is called “natural cleft.” The stones themselves are flat and comfortable to walk on, wheel the grill across, or set up your patio furniture upon.  However a close examination will reveal a slight texture to the surface of the stones. The texture reveals slight sedimentary patterns from the creation of the stone and generally fluxuates no more than 1/8” from high spot to low spot.

In my experience, most clients and homeowners like the look of the natural stone grain, however in some instances the finish may not be for everyone.  Another option is the thermal finish.

“Thermal” refers to the heat treatment that helps to provide a smooth consistent finish to the surface of the stone.  I’ll spare you the nitty gritty of the science details, but the basic process includes moistening the stone and then applying a flame directly to the stone surface. As the moisture hides in the small nooks and crannies of the stone surface, it eventually expands due to the heat, resulting in a small “popping”and flaking of the stone surface.  As the treatment continues, the subtle texture of the stone grain is removed, leaving behind a smooth consistent surface.  In some instances, the thermal treatment also achieves a slight change in color, however that often depends on the make-up of the stone, specifically the iron content of the stone.

Generally speaking, most natural cleft flagstone is split along the natural sedimentary grain as it is harvested from the quarries to achieve the desired thickness.  Thermal finish stone is typically saw cut to the desired thickness to achieve a more consistent stone thickness.  After the stones are cut to the desired thickness, the surface is thermal-treated to remove any minor imperfections and saw marks. The result is a flagstone that is uniform in thickness and completely smooth across the surface of the stone.

The thermaling, or torching as its sometimes called, is not a process that should be attempted by do-it-yourselfers.  While it is something that can be done by qualified contractors on site for smaller edge treatments or spot flaming, the process can be somewhat time-prohibitive for larger scale surface areas.  Most suppliers can provide thermal-treated stones available directly from the quarry, at just a slight cost increase from the natural cleft stone.

Ultimately the choice to go with natural cleft vs. a thermal finish is up to the homeowner and their particular aesthetic preferences.  A few locations that lend themselves more to a thermal finish may include pool side installations where users are more apt to be barefoot, interior floors, and countertop applications, however the natural cleft may better suit a project, again based on the personal preferences of the homeowner and the desired architectural effect.  Many more formal installations also utilize the thermal finish for larger steps, pedestals, blocks and caps.

If you would like to see a sample of thermal finish vs. the natural cleft, please feel free to ask and I’d be happy to show you a few samples.  You can also visit your local hardscaping supplier to see what they may have available in stock.


 

To celebrate Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial kick-off to summer, and to tip my hat to the end of National Barbecue Month, I thought I’d quickly share one of my favorite tastes of summer:  Fish Tacos!

Having spent a fair amount of time in California, and being a connoisseur of fine street foods from across the globe, I’ve tasted a wide range of fish tacos in my day.  And while I’ve never had a bad one, I have lifted a few things from
some of my favorite various takes through the years.  I like this recipe for a variety of reasons, particularly since the fish is grilled and not fried, and its quick and easy to throw on the grill.

Here goes:

Tilapia or other whitefish fillets (quantity based on who’s eating)
Burrito-size tortillas
Cabbage, sliced
Mango Salsa (The fresher the better, pineapple salsa also works quite nicely)
Fresh lime wedges
Fresh cilantro
Tobasco or preferred hot sauce to taste

Take a sheet of aluminum foil and roll up the edges about an inch to prevent any juices from spilling off the sheet.  Lightly oil the sheet with olive oil, and place the fillets directly on the foil.  Squeeze fresh limejuice over the fillets, and place on top rack of covered grill.  Cook for about 5 minutes until fish is cooked, but still moist.

Place one fillet (two if small) directly on tortilla.  Throw some sliced cabbage on top of fish along with a few healthy spoonfuls of the salsa.  Squeeze another fresh lime wedge over top, sprinkle on some fresh cilantro, and you are good to go.

Serve up with a nice cold IPA (Victory HopDevil or Anderson Valley IPA are my favorites), kick back and enjoy!

Happy Summer everyone!

One of my favorite places to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is literally right here in my own backyard.  Swarthmore College’s Scott Arboretum sits on 300 peaceful secluded acres on the banks of Crum Creek adjacent to the college’s main campus.  Even though its just 15 miles from Center City Philadelphia, it’s a world away once you hit the trailhead entrances.

According to the arboretum’s website, the arboretum was officially dedicated in 1929 as a living memorial to a college alumnus.  It is supported by an endowment fund through Swarthmore College, with the stated mission of educating the public and demonstrating the plants of Eastern Pennsylvania.  

Today it includes something for everyone, from hardcore horticulturists to outdoor enthusiasts to summer concert-goers.

For plant enthusiasts, the arboretum prides itself on its treasured collections.  In accordance with its mission of educating the public, plants are clearly labeled and tagged, providing a living museum open to the public.  The Arboretum’s collections of hollies, magnolias, and oaks in particular have gained recognition as registered collections in the North American Plant Collections Consortium.  Other prized collections include conifers, crabapples, flowering cherries, hydrangeas, roses, and magnolias.

One of my favorite spots in the arboretum is the Scott Arboretum Amphitheater.  Situated adjacent to one of the main trailheads just off the main campus road, this amazing spot was constructed in 1942 by noted Philadelphia landscape architect Thomas Sears.  Its perfectly spaced semi-circular stone bench walls are terraced between strips of lush lawn, perfect for lounging back on a blanket and taking in the sites.  

The amphitheater sits beneath a canopy of magnificent tulip trees and white oaks, with stunning views into the Crum Creek Valley behind the main stage amidst the dogwoods, magnolias and rhododendrons.  In addition to a number of college events including its annual commencement ceremonies, the amphitheater is also home to a summer concert series, theater performances and is also available for private weddings and parties.

The main trail connects the college entrance through the arboretum, ending on the back door of the campus in neighboring Nether Providence Township.  The length and access is just perfect for a quick “lets get out of the house” excursion, as the trail quickly descends into the valley and meanders along the banks of Crum Creek for approximately 1.5 miles.  A three-mile loop hike takes anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, depending on how many times we have to stop so the dogs can play in the creek or the kids can climb any of the natural rock formations that dot the shoreline.

In the summer we’ll drop our canoe in just above the creek’s Yale Avenue dam (aka "The Falls"), originally constructed in 1776 in conjunction with a small milltown, and slowly paddle up stream through the woods.  Its not uncommon on these excursions that we don’t see a soul until the creek meets up with the trail.  Brook trout, perch, and bluegills provide fun recreational fishing opportunities, and there’s even some rumors about some bass residing in the waters just behind the dam.  In the winter we’ll ice skate on the same portion of the creek where we canoe, and cross country ski on the trails and across the meadow.

While I’m sure nearly everybody has a local spot that they can tap into for quick, easy, and rewarding recreational opportunities, I’m sure glad that Scott Arboretum is nearby for me.  If you’re in the area and would like to learn more about Scott Arboretum, visit their website at www.scottarboretum.org.

Happy Trails!

So it’s finally time to put in that new walkway or patio you’ve been dreaming about.  Sure there is an existing patio in place, but its ugly old concrete.  Maybe there’s a crack or two that has surfaced.  Maybe you’ve just moved into a new home and the old patio just won’t work for you.

“But wait”, you ask. “Since there’s already an existing patio or walkway in place, maybe we can save a few bucks by using it as a footing for a new flagstone overlay.”  Well I’ll give you credit for some independent thinking.

But unfortunately, more often than not, it doesn’t work out.

Now before you go accusing me of up-selling again, let me tell you that I have done overlays on top of existing concrete in the past.  And I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to doing it again.  But there’s a number of things that need to be looked at first.

1.  First, the doorways. Does your patio door open directly onto the patio?  Is there a step down to the patio or is the threshold set nearly even with the patio?  Same goes for front doors and front entry landings.  Keep in mind that a flagstone overlay typically will add a minimum of an inch-and-a-half of thickness to the surface to account for the thickness of the stones and the mortar bed.  If you have an eight inch step from the doorway to the patio surface this isn’t necessarily an issue, but if it’s nearly even to begin with?  Then it probably won’t work.  You don’t want the patio surface to be higher than the interior floor.  And you don’t want a small one-or-two inch step transitioning between surfaces. That’s what I like to call a tripper.

2.  The layout.  Assuming the interior entry points aren’t a problem, then the next thing you want to consider is the layout of the existing patio. Is the existing layout large enough for you?  Is it a basic rectangle shape and you were hoping for something with a few sexy curves? If the existing layout is exactly what you were hoping to replicate, then green light it, game on.  

But if you were hoping to keep the existing concrete as a partial footing and add on to make it larger or change the shape slightly, then you’re probably better off just tearing it out and starting anew.  The cost saving of keeping that existing slab isn’t huge, and you don’t want a footing that isn’t one continuous slab.  Even the slightest differential in
movement (concrete does move as the ground swells and contracts) can result in visible surface cracks or stones popping. Nothing you want to deal with and nothing I want my name attached to.

3.  The integrity of the existing concrete.  If you don’t like the existing concrete then there’s more than likely a problem with it.  If it’s just a matter of not liking concrete, then hey, I’m with you.  But is the surface starting to crumble or deteriorate?  Then that’s going to affect the mortar bond to the overlay.  Is it cracked?  Well then the separate sections are likely to move independently of one another as the ground swells.  As stated above, that can lead to visible cracks in the flagstone and/or stones becoming loose.

4.  Does the existing concrete noticeably heave as the seasons change?  I grew up in a house where our back patio heaved and settled about three to four inches every year.  The slab remained intact, it just rose and settled with the seasons.  That may sound a bit extreme, but even a small fraction of an inch heave is enough to pop a few stones or at least crack some mortar against the seams of the house.  Why not alleviate the problem altogether by having a properly built footing installed to the proper depths and with the proper sub-prep.  It’ll save everybody a few headaches down the road.

So yeah, maybe you’ll have to foot the bill for the existing concrete removal and a new concrete footing in conjunction with that flagstone patio you’re putting in.  But in the grand scheme of things, it’s worth it.  And to be honest, those aren’t generally the biggest ticket items on any new install.  Focus on the value you’re receiving for the money you’re spending, not just the amount on the check you’re writing. 

And maybe that existing concrete will work for you as a footing.  I’ll look at it and let you know.  But take a quick run-down of the above checklist first before you come to any assumptions about whether or not it can be re-used. 

“Inspiration, move me brightly. Light the song with sense and color;
Hold away despair, more than this I will not ask.”

 -- Grateful Dead Lyrics, Terrapin Station

Funny thing about inspiration.  If you’re actively looking for it, you’re probably not apt to find it.

This time of year, nearly everybody is looking to get inspired with ideas for their landscaping. Maybe it’s some ideas for new plantings. Or designs for a deck.  Or patio layout.  Maybe it’s a matter of selecting the materials that will go best with your existing architecture.  Whatever the subject, we all need a little inspiration from time to time.

And that inspiration could come from a book, or television show, or a walk around a landscape supply yard.  Magazines, museums, the internet, public architecture and gardens, local neighborhoods – the sources are endless.

My wife and I were watching a show on PBS a few months back.  It was a documentary about the making of Simon and Garfinkel’s landmark album “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”  The show included a clip from the Dick Cavett Show circa 1970.  Paul Simon was the interview guest, and Dick Cavett asked him where the inspiration came from to write the album’s flagship song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

After stumbling over his response for a moment or two and giving some boilerplate answer about listening to a lot of gospel music, Simon finally just stopped himself and basically admitted that one night he just picked up his guitar and penned the song in about an hour’s time.  

Wow!

An instant classic to say the least.  One moment the song didn’t exist, and the next moment it was out there.

And that’s just the point.  Inspiration doesn’t have to be a laborious process.  The best and freshest ideas often just come to us in moments of clarity.

Clients and prospects often ask me for ideas for their projects.  To be fair, I always have a couple of ideas up my sleeve, a by-product of having been at this job for more than a dozen years.  But I don’t have all the answers.  After
all, what may appeal to me may not to the client, and they’re the ones who are going to be living with and using the yard on a daily basis (I hope so, at least).

Here in the Philadelphia area, we are blessed with a number of public parks and gardens.  Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, Tyler Arboretum, Scott Arboretum, Ridley Creek State Park, Fairmount Park, to name a few.  And we are also blessed with an amazing stock of 100-year-old, even 200-year-old public buildings and private residences.

Rid yourself of pre-conceptions and take a drive around.  Or even a walk around your neighborhood.  Hike a trail.  Ride a bike.  See anything you like?  
 
Don’t look for specific things you THINK you may want included in your yard.  If you’re looking for that perfect set of steps to match your existing ideas, you probably won’t find exactly what you’re looking for.

But if you erase your mind and take in the beauty around you, I’m sure you’ll see a few things you like.

Some of my best ideas come from right in my own backyard.  Literally.  Spend some time in your yard and look around.  Soak in what you see.  Kick back and relax.  Have a drink. Read a book or the newspaper. Listen to the birds.  Listen to the wind in the trees.  Look at the yard and the surrounding neighborhood.  Imagine what it must have looked like before the houses and fences were there.  Look at the slopes and the berms, imagine how the water flows when it rains.  Where do you typically walk through the yard?  Is there a beaten path through the grass that gets walked on frequently?  How would (or do) deer travel through the yard?  The ideas will come.  Trust me.

Here’s to hoping you find your inspiration, for whatever projects you may be considering.