Learn from the Experts/ FAQ’s: Kathleen Litchfield

Kathleen Litchfield President of Petro Design/Build, Inc. Kathleen Litchfield
President of Petro Design/Build, Inc. is one of the Washington area's leading landscape and garden design experts. Her insightful advice on landscape design, construction, and practice has been published and quoted innumerous regional and national magazines. She has developed and taught accredited courses in horticulture and has lectured for garden clubs, the National Association of Remodeling Industry, the Landscape Contractors Association, the Smithsonian Educational Series, the George Washington University landscape design program, and the Washington Design Center.

Landscaping Your Home

Q.
I've just purchased an older home and plan extensive renovations and additions.I want to plan my landscape and get started. How should I proceed?
A.
Plan the garden design simultaneously to the remodeling design. Existing plant materials may need to be removed and possibly saved for future installations depending on the design specifics. Hardscapes (pools, patio areas, decking) are next. Grading and any necessary exterior drainage issues should be considered in the design and implemented before and after the exterior construction to divert water away from the foundation and yard. The plantings could begin with the perimeter/accent or shade trees, followed by the shrubs, perennials and groundcovers, depending on the progress of the remodeling and, of course, the budget.

Q.
I love color in the garden but have minimal time to maintain a garden. Who should I consult with concerning which plants will thrive in this climate, provide year round color and work in my existing garden with low maintenance?
A.
Although landscape architects and designers are trained in design, very few have the horticultural training and experience necessary to risk warranties on plant material. Consult a landscape design/build firm with an experienced horticulturist on staff. You will get a realistic approach to design, necessary site preparations, budget and maintenance.

Q.
I’m very confused about an appropriate fence/gate/arbor designs and materials for my new “track” home. I like my home but it does seem to have a lot of different style elements. Any suggestions?
A.
Although it can be problematic with many of today’s new homes having several different styles merging together, the most important thing is to not add to the confusion but unify. Select one or two elements; windows, trim style or cornice detail and work with it in the design and construction of other elements within the landscape. Interior styles can be echoed in the rear exterior spaces to create a flow from the inside out through the use of similar interior colors, materials and themes.

Q.
My front walkway provides limited access, is not lighted well and has settled considerably. I’m happy with the surrounding mature plantings and don’t want to damage what is there. Any suggestions?
A.
Typically, if the walkway has settled, so have the plantings. Both could cause water problems that will get worse over time. Some plantings are worth the risk and/or cost to transplant and some are not. A new reinforced walkway designed to compliment architectural features and materials of the house, provide adequate room for 2 people to walk side by side and work with your existing garden style should be discussed, on site, with a professional experienced in grading, drainage, plantings and landscape construction. Established trees can provide an excellent source for lighting of the walkway and surrounding areas. Lighting located above eye level will light more area with fewer fixtures. Conduit and electrical should be designed and installed prior to construction.

Learn from the Experts/ FAQ’s: Kent Richard Abraham

Kent Richar Abraham, Principle Architect with Abraham/Petro Kent Richard Abraham,
Principal Architect with Abraham/Petro a division of Petro Design/Build He is a member of the US Green Building Council 2006. His education includes Bachelor of Architecture, 1970, University of Nebraska, With Honors (Cum Laude),Awarded the Faculty Award, Outstanding Senior Student; Master of Architecture, 1971, University of Pennsylvania, Studio of Louis Kahn. He has served as Chair, Thesis committee school of Architecture and Planning, The Catholic University of America Washington, DC since 1978.

Architectural Design & Construction

A.
How do I start thinking about designing a home or a totally separate garage and In-Law apartment?
Q.
Make sure you love your location. The lot, the site, the neighborhood. Then consider practicality, function and your lifestyle. Be open with your architect on budget and time-frame. An architect is trained to work with you to design a home tha considers all of these factors.

Your site plan should have specifics such as Building Restriction Lines (BRL), construction setbacks and septic field layouts. Local building codes, if not on your site plan, can be clarified through your county or city government offices. This is the first step in determining the location limits.

On the question of an addition, it should serve to form exterior rooms and public spaces and tie to existing structures through the design of hardscapes and plantings. Naturally, the design of the garage and surrounding hardscapes should mirror the style and era of your home.

Q.
Do you design “green, eco-friendly homes”?
A.
Yes, we do! Actually, we are members of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Q.
My kitchen is dark, outdated and doesn’t function well for our family anymore. What areour options?
A.
There are many options with budget as an obvious consideration.
Here are few:
- • A good lighting design can change the overall look for a relatively minimum cost.
- • Depending on the condition of the existing cabinets, refinishing can be quite cost effective.
- • Today’s new available cabinet selections provide lots of versatile, functional and colorful options. A good
  design for the rearrangement/or addition to existing cabinetry and counter space is key to good flow and
  function.
- • Appliance upgrades are varied and can add functional options to maximize your space.
- • Light stains or paint can visually expand and freshen.
- • New or larger windows and/or French doors or even skylights will include your outside in your interior space,
  again, serving to expand your kitchen.
- • Interior wall removals or expansions into exterior spaces are viable alternatives depending on budget and
  existing layout.

Q.
We’re ready to finally remodel our basement to make it inviting and functional. We would love an “entertainment center” but need storage and office space as well. How should we budget for this?
A.
Start with a list of “must-haves” and desires and then work with an architectural interior designer to develop a basic layout for budget considerations.

Some considerations for a more open and usable basement include:
- • A Dry Basement!
- • The use of non-toxic materials such as UF-free products.
- • Good heat, ventilation and humidity
- • Ceilings (tray vs. drop)
- • Opening of stairwells with the use of balustrade or iron railings
- • Flooring options (tile, carpet, wood)
- • Wall or door removal to open and add to the space
- • Wall treatments (cabinetry, drywall, paneling)
- • Window/door additions and exterior stairwells
- • Bar, sink, appliances
- • The addition of a fireplace
- • Built-ins including seating, office space and shelving
Once a budget is established, including allowances for specialty items (such as wide screen TV’s, wine storage or custom lighting), design details and any necessary construction documents can be included in the overall cost of the project.

Q.
I want to add an all-season sunroom to the back of my house.I would like the ceiling to be open with skylights for maximum light. There are windows on the second floor and I’m not sure how the roofline will work with and addition or with the existing roofline. What are my options?
A.
The scary part about an addition, such as this, is that it can actually lower the value of your home if the design does not conform to your home. It is critical to work with a design professional in this regard. The upstairs windows are usually required as an egress and closing them would be an example of reducing the value of your home. The addition could be joined to your home with a small section of flat roof to avoid the above windows then the roof slope should match the slope of your existing house.

A better, yet more costly, alternative would be to make the upstairs either become a part of the lower level or expand as well.

Q.
My house is screaming for a portico! It’s so plain and uninviting and a portico would really add some charm, dimension and protection. I’ve been noticing lots of styles. How do I pick the best one for my home?
A.
Your house style will dictate the portico style. Look for period details and follow through.

June/July Tip of the Month

What is that Smell??!

The ever more knowledgeable homeowner is keenly aware of the implications of a musty smell. Cracked foundations, flooded basements and deadly molds can send a potential homeowner scrambling to higher ground. A variety of molds, all too familiar after the recent surge in hurricanes, are responsible for everything from allergies to life-threatening diseases.

It's true that years of water seepage along foundation walls or sub-standard foundations can prove to be costly, but often the correction required is as simple and inexpensive as a little regrading.

If you suspect water seepage, check the obvious first. Are the gutters separated from the fascia board or clogged? Are they bent or sagging from previous ice build-up or damage from surrounding trees? Are they large enough for the area of roof space that they drain or the pitch of the roof? Telltale signs include a line of erosion along the foundation base or mud splashed on the house from the ground. The best investigation is a walk around the outside of your house in a good rain to see what is happening.
Frequent overflows can cause compaction and subsequent settling of the soils around the foundation. It's enough to settle concrete stoops and walkways overtime leading to expensive replacements. Check to make sure there is positive flow away from the house. If the grade must be raised the existing waterproofing below the surface should be checked by a competent contractor for viability and raised to the proposed new grade. This includes, at a minimum, a good waterproof parge with an asphalt sealant to prevent water from saturated soils from absorbing into brick, block or concrete. Additional soils to raise grade should consist of a clay base and be compacted to divert water accordingly.

Water from downspouts may need to be diverted away from foundations either by the use of splash blocks or piped underground using PVC piping. It's best to avoid the corrugated ADS piping as it can easily clog and is susceptible to crushing. Exit the piping into a dry well at a lower elevation, to an existing storm drain or through the curb at the street.

Check window wells for debris or silt. Is the gravel visible in the base of the well? Is it below the sill of the window? Is the height of the well enough to retain the appropriate grade? Never allow a contractor to “stack”, “extend” or “add on” to an existing aluminum or galvanized well to increase the height. An entire window well unit can be replaced for as low as $75 and will avoid future separation and seepage. Wells should be secure to the foundation and caulked along the edges.

Cracked block foundation should be repaired from the outside. Minor cracks within concrete foundations can be repaired from the inside.

Other less obvious forms of basement water seepage include broken pipes within or entering through walls in the house, ground water or clogged drain tiles. Some of these drainage corrections can be extensive and may require the services of a drainage consultant to determine when new drain tile, sump pumps or more extensive excavation is required.

There are many molds that can cause serious illnesses. Once introduced, mold spores will always be present but will remain dormant unless activated by moisture. A certified mold-remediator should be contacted for a professional inspection and consultation.

Relatively speaking, drainage correction is one of the least expensive yet most important and effective repairs you can do to insure the safety and condition of your home.

April/May Tip of the Month

Kathleen Litchfield's Interview on Fox News/Basements Flood Following Storms

"The rain over the past week has left a lot of people with soggy basements. From homes to basement apartments, it's tough on anyone hearing water pouring in and it's enough to drain your wallet and your spirit. Fox 5's Beth Parker shows us how the water gets in and how you can avoid it."

Watch the video

February/March Tip of the Month

When Experience and Design Matter

Ask any seasoned landscape designer to recall an earlier landscape project that they 'learned' from and you will notice a slight cringe. College sets the groundwork for good research and sound principles. Experience provides the training necessary to design and build long-term successful gardens. Every project becomes a benchmark of the next.

Analysis, for instance, of why one method worked on one site and not another or how project timing can effect construction, plant material or location, become lessons that are often learned at the expense of your business or your client's site. Then there are those that have neither had the formal training or experience in design or construction and base their ability on their record for cutting grass.

The obscene availability and use of the concrete wall and paving materials have opened up a whole new venue for many entrepreneurs. Touted as the 'do-it-yourself' weekend project, business have sprung up overnight offering elaborate outdoor kitchens, spas, terraces and walls for a fraction of the price of more conventional materials. Where many of these projects fail is in the basics of engineering and the lack of experience. I have a photo collection of these failed projects and have consulted on behave of the client in several litigation cases. In close to 30 years of experience in the design/build business, I have seen seemingly innocent outdoor construction projects flood interior finished basements, undermine and crack house foundations, destroy cars, equipment and buildings and end up in years of litigation.

This completed 12' high concrete retaining wall failed during the first heavy rain totaling two of the homeowner's cars and their mower. The initial project was awarded to the low bid. It is now costing 4 times the price for reconstruction.

This is not to suggest that the product is flawed; in fact, we have successfully used the concrete products in many public and commercial areas and I feel that they have their place in the home landscape. What doesn't work, from a design eye, is ignoring the existing house materials or the nature of the site when choosing the exterior building materials. I have been in neighborhoods of traditional brick homes and found that nearly every house had a natural stacked stone planter wall. This echo's of the aluminum siding days. Now, nearly every landscape includes a variety of concrete building blocks and pavers that neither complement nor match the house. My suggestion; invest your money in some well placed and chosen trees that will help with energy cost and home value.

How can you avoid using your garden project as a training site for the inexperienced designer or contractor?

• Look at projects that were implemented 2 and more years ago.
- • Check construction for any cracks, warping, splitting, pooling of water, etc.
- • Check plantings to see if they are thriving. Deer damaged plants is not an excuse. It's poor selection.
• Designers come and go, in companies, gaining experience and searching for their perfect fit. If you are working with a new designer, find out who is reviewing their design/project and who will ultimately be in charge of your projects success.
• Check warranties of construction and plantings

...And remember that we truly get exactly what we pay for. The more experience someone has, the more they know exactly what things cost to implement and become very aware of how quality in detail, materials and labor truly make the difference in the success of a project and the longevity of their business and reputation.

December/January Tip of the Month

Winter Drought

Winter is viewed, by many, as a welcome break from daily garden chores and a time to design and plan for spring plantings. Our focus turns inside as we await warmer temperatures.

In Washington, warmer temperatures often are intermittent throughout the winter. It's not unusual to get 60 and 70 degree days in January and February followed by 20 degree temperatures the very same week. These warmer winter extremes are one of the reason's that several northern plants and trees do not survive in our region.

During these times of warmer temperatures, it's important to be aware of the amount of moisture available to your plants. Sunny, warm winter days can deplete your garden of the moisture necessary for survival through impending colder temperatures. We tend to assume that winter is always a time of rest for the garden. This past summer and fall were relatively dry and there is no guarantee that the winter and spring months will provide an adequate amount of snow or rain for new or established plantings. A well watered garden, no matter what the time of year, will avoid costly replacements in the spring. Make sure that the areas being watered are well drained, as well, to prevent freezing of standing water.

While you are in the garden with your watering hose, on one of our assured warm winter days, there are a few other things that you can do as well.

• If you didn't do this in the fall, apply an antitranspirant to your broad leaved evergreens. This will help prevent loss of water during cold, sunny and windy weather. Temperatures need to be above 40 degrees for this.
• Check for broken branches on large trees that may damage surrounding structures or vegetation, and cut and remove them.
• Winter is the best time to prune trees that bleed in the spring. These include maples, beeches and yellowoods
• If snow has already fallen once, your perennial foliage is probably looking poor. Cut this foliage and add to your compost pile. Be sure that your perennial bed is adequately protected (mulched) with either leaves or shredded hardwood bark.
• Fill bird feeders regularly.

October/November Tip of the Month:

Protecting your Investment

Prior to the initial site visit and consultation we ask that a new client complete and return a comprehensive questionnaire to help them define their likes, dislikes, dreams and budget. It includes a check list for everything from additions to the colors of flowers. It gives me a realistic perspective of what to expect so that I can prepare for the meeting as well.
With 30 years of experience in site analysis and design, I could easily write a book on client desires and budgets versus site restrictions and needs. I will focus on two of the top site conditions that are typically overlooked when homeowners define their budget considerations. They are:
1. Existing trees
2. Drainage

TIP:
1. Invest your initial landscape budget on protecting and maintaining your existing trees

Large, established, healthy trees can be priceless to your site. Statistically, they can add between 13%-19% to the value of your home. Likewise, trees in poor health or in need of major pruning or cabling, can threaten your investment through fallen limbs or the whole tree. In a wooded setting, selective tree removals can extend the life of more desirable trees.
The first order of business in site considerations and budget is tree protection, care and maintenance. Planning and budgeting this critical aspect of your landscape can save you thousands in future renovations, repair cost and new plantings. I have been on many projects where the house, addition or new exterior construction was designed to take advantage of the existing stately trees, and yet, no care was taken during the construction of the house to avoid damage to these trees! That’s priceless!!! On other sites, the initial budget was spent on a beautifully landscaped ‘shade garden’. Now the shade is gone and the garden is quickly declining.
Be careful when you choose someone to implement your tree work. Make sure that they are certified arborist and licensed. Tree care and even pruning is a learned trade. I will reserve the cheap-guys-in-the-out-of-state-pick-up-truck horror stories for my book.

2. Address drainage issues before they damage your home, site or even your health

I’m sure that, by now, you all have heard of Stachybotrys mold. It grows on extremely wet building materials containing cellulose that have remained wet for more than a week. It produces mycotoxins that can irritate skin and mucous membranes. One potent mycotoxin produced by Stachybotrys is called satratoxin; it is toxic when inhaled. It can lead to death. Wet basements anyone?
Being very sensitive to molds myself, I carry a mask with me when investigating possible basement drainage issues. I have been in basements where the children’s play space is located near an adjoining wall that is covered with this ‘black mold.’
Why is this information on a landscape website? Because, the majority of drainage issues can and should be addressed from the outside of the house. Regrading, gutter replacements or repairs, exterior waterproofing, surface and French drains all involve the landscape in some way. Settling foundations, patios and porches can divert surface water into your home, compromising foundation walls, ruining interior furnishings, walls and flooring and possibly contributing to deadly molds. Water settling within your yard or landscape can cause a variety of fungal problems adversely affecting your plants and turf, as well as contributing to the mosquito population.
Addressing drainage issues prior to new construction or landscaping is the most cost effective (often easiest), amendment you can implement and a smart first step when considering your initial budget.

Upcoming ‘Tips’

• Adding value to your home through good landscaping
• Cutting energy cost with sound planting design
• Curb appeal; selling your house now or in the future.
• Xeroscaping; landscaping for current and future droughts
• Outdoor rooms for entertaining

September Tip of the Month:

WATER, WATER, WATER!!!!!!!!!

I can not stress enough the importance of fall watering; particularly after coming through such a devastatingly dry summer. Even an irrigation system was not enough to establish and maintain plantings this year. Chances are, if you were watering your plants individually, the water was absorbing into the surrounding soil quicker than your plants could absorb it. Any adjacent surrounding trees would have done the same.

I just came from a site where the homeowner swears she watered religiously (and I believe her). When I dug up one of her plants the soil was bone dry. Her soil included a large percentage of mica (a very porous silty/shale-type material) and she had surrounding established trees. Whatever water was able to remain in such a loose soil was quickly absorbed by the trees…and they didn’t even look so good. I saw 50-75 year old trees die this summer because of the drought and improper maintenance practices. (More on this during another monthly tip)

Did you use a sprinkler to water your plants? You should know that about 70% ended up in the atmosphere and if you thought that piling mulch on your beds would hold in the moisture, think again. You have added a ‘sponge’ to your garden. Additionally, that mulch encouraged the root systems of your trees and shrubs to surface, as they gasped for air and water, causing them to dry out further.

OK, so we are going into the fall; the time of year when the foliage part of the plant starts to slow and the root system continues to thrive and get ready for its winter hibernation. Are you getting where I’m going with this? Hibernation, storing-up energy, getting ready for the brutality of winter? WATER is crucial now. Not mulch.

Please plan accordingly and call me with questions or to schedule a site visit to help you get ready for winter.

Published Articles and Lecture Topics:

Lecture Topics

Listed below are just a few of the interesting topics Kathleen has presented at Shows and Events, from The Smithsonian Lecture Series , The Washington Design Center, Home & Design “ Luxury Expo” , ASID and IFDA events to local and regional garden clubs . Call her to address your group!

• Color In the Garden
• Landscape Design Solutions
• Feng Shui in your Garden
• Garden Design & Outdoor Living
• Inside Spaces Meet Outside Spaces