Tips from the Pros

TIPS By Stefanie Jackowitz FROM THE PROS Preserve Your Deck Save time, stress, and money this summer on your home and garden. Suburban Essex Magazine asked local service professionals for key tips and techniques geared especially for our readers. Here's what they told us: Secrets to Watering Your Plants Design the Perfect Outdoor Space In order to keep your deck looking great, a power wash is recommended annually. A maintenance coat should be applied every 18 to 24 months with a full stripping and refinishing every four to six years. Adding more than two or three coats to your deck without stripping can cause peeling, as the stain no longer bonds to the wood efficiently. Before a finish is applied, make sure that all wood surfaces are sanded. Maintaining your deck is a labor-intensive project, and there are a variety of finishes on the market. It's best to consult a professional for more information. Fiore and Son Painting 973-464-6182 nick@fioreandson.com www.fioreandson.com When thinking about entertaining outdoors, the key is making the space livable. These tips can help: • Add beautiful drapery panels made of fade- or weather-resistant fabrics to your covered areas for sun protection and privacy. • Coordinate your fabrics with beautiful upholstered all-weather wicker sets in styles from traditional to modern. • Add an outdoor area rug or lamp to make your space more inviting. Many home furnishing companies are now making beautiful outdoor-ready products. • Don't forget the fun! Include enough furniture and space for cooking, relaxing, and entertaining. INTERIORS by Decorating Den Valerie Ruddy, C.I.D. Verona • 973-239-3004 www.decdens.com/valerieruddy Teach Garage Door Safety Closet Tricks for a Better Fit The main reason that landscape plants don't survive is either under- or over-watering. The amount of water a plant needs depends on how much it's using. Plants in shady or cool areas need less water. Newer plants need more frequent watering than well-established plantings. How do you really know how much to water? Feel the soil. The top layer may be dry, but if the soil is wet a few inches down, there's no need for water. Those with a sprinkler system don't need to water every day. As a rule of thumb, water your trees and shrubs twice a week during the summer. Anne Fahey Garden Design & Consulting 973-226-7326 www.annefaheygardens.com To get more space without knocking out walls, pull out anything you haven't worn or used in two years and donate to charity. You'll feel good about it—and free up space to create shelves for sweaters, shirts, and shoes. Organize the keepers by category: use double-hanging rods for suits, blouses, shirts, and pants, and single rods for dresses, coats, and other long-hanging clothes. Still have room? Create a drawer section, which doubles as a dresser, adding even more storage area. Closets by Design Northern and Central New Jersey 201-964-9600 • www.closetsbydesign.com Garage doors and openers are not toys. Although garages are now required by law to feature auto-reverse mechanisms, it's still very important to educate your children in garage door safety. Teach your little ones to never pick up a garage door opener or play near an open garage door. Talk to them about the danger of being trapped under the door, and be sure you know how to use the emergency release. Skillman Doors recommends conducting a safety and service inspection annually on your garage door system. Visit SkillmanDoors.com for more everyday safety tips. Skillman Doors, LLC 973-748-1100 sales@skillmandoors.com www.skillmandoors.com Find the Right Kitchen Cabinet Olive Oil Keeps Pets Off Furniture Increase the Life of Your Carpet • Vacuum weekly. • Treat stains and spills immediately. • Use a professional, quick-drying cleaning method annually or as needed to keep your carpets fresh. • Keep floormats at all doorways to trap dirt; most dirt arrives on people's shoes. OxyMagic of Essex 973-239-0444 oxymagicofnj@optonline.net www.oxymagiconline.com Did Did you know that dogs and cats hate the scent of olive oil? Most do—creating a natural way to keep furry friends off the dining room table. As an added benefit, the oil will moisturize and restore your wood's shine. If your pets do scratch the wood furniture, use a very fine grade steel wool to gently rub the table or chair. David Restoration 389 Route 10 East, East Hanover • 973-992-7009 www.restorationdavid.com Not all kitchen (or other) cabinets are created the same. When choosing a kitchen cabinet company, be sure to ask how the cabinet is constructed. The core of the cabinet—the box—is critical; everything sits on it. Here are some things to consider: • The core should be 3/4" thick, plywood veneer for structural integrity. • Cabinets should be assembled with heavy-duty screws. Glue and biscuits are used for reinforcement. • You may want to choose a local manufacturer and cabinet company since they will be close by, not only during construction, but also years down the road. Montclair Cabinetry, LLC 973-783-5788 montclaircabinetry@comcast.net 74 SUBURBAN ESSEX MAGAZINE Summer 2009

Tips from the Pros

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