The Record Homescape 05-07-2020 | Página 2

2H ❚ THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 ❚ THE RECORD P HOMESCAPE / ADVERTISING SECTION YOU CAN BE IN HOMESCAPE! We invite our readers to submit photos and background information for four of our recurring features: n “MY HOME PROJECT” — Do you love tackling home improvement challenges? Is it your idea of fun to build shelves, stencil walls or refinish furniture? Maybe you’ve even reno- vated a large area on your own! If you can provide a short write up and high quality “before” and “after” photos of one of your projects, we’d like to share them with our readers. n “COMFORT ZONE” — Do you have a “go-to” or unique space in your home designed to cater to your special interests? It could be a game room, fitness center, workshop, audio room, unique retreat where you indulge in your favorite hobby or just hang out with friends. “Scouting shots” are OK for this feature, because if your room fits our criteria we’ll have our photographer photograph the space. n “COLLECTIONS” or “FAMILY HEIRLOOMS” — Are you an ardent collector of interesting items that fit a theme and are integrated into your home décor, or have you discovered a family heirloom that you’ve restored for display? We’d love to see your collection or learn about your heirloom’s special history. HOME SAFETY Make home a safer haven this spring A s people become more active dur- ing the warmer months, keeping home safety top of mind can some- times go by the wayside. However, when it comes to fire and carbon monoxide safety, you can never be too prepared. Whether you are just beginning to take a stronger safety-first approach or looking to upgrade existing home safety equipment, keep these tips in mind as you spruce up your home for the season. DON’T JUST CHECK BATTERIES, CHECK THE ALARM It’s a good idea to review your safety equipment and ensure everything is in good working order at least a couple times each year. For example, every type of smoke alarm must be completely replaced every 10 years whether it’s hardwired into your home or operates on a battery. New smoke alarms commonly come with built-in 10-year batteries, meaning no battery changes, but it’s a good idea to test the units regularly. In fact, most manufacturers recommend week- ly. You can also use this time to double-check the gauge on your fire extinguishers, test security systems and replenish first-aid kits. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMART TECHNOLOGY According to the National Fire Protection Association, 40 years ago people had an average of 17 minutes to escape a home fire, but today the average has decreased to about 3 minutes due to synthetic materi- als used in modern-day home furnishings. To get the earliest warning of a home fire, install wire-free interconnected battery- powered combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When one alarm senses a hazard, all alarms throughout the home sound in unison. Features like color-coded status rings and built-in 10-year sealed batteries make Wire-Free Interconnected Alarms, such as Kidde’s, a smart solution for optimal protection. They offer simple setup and operate without the hassle of hardwiring or a Wi-Fi connection. CHECK APPLIANCES While going through your spring home safety checklist, take time to check your appliances or schedule an annual mainte- nance check for your stove, oven, heat- ing system and more. According to the American Red Cross, dryers are responsible for approximately 9 of every 10 appliances fires. These common household appliances can collect dust, lint and other particles, which are potential fire hazards and can cause carbon monoxide leaks. KEEP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN MIND Cooking on grills is a popular pastime, but thousands of people are injured every year while using them. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 9,000 home fires are started by grills each year. Now is a good time to get your home’s grilling area in tip-top shape. Keep a 3-foot safety zone around hot grills for children and pets, and have a multipurpose home fire extinguisher nearby as fires can occur unexpectedly. Propane and char- coal grills both put off carbon monoxide as a byproduct, so be sure keep your grill at least 10 feet from the home and ensure it is positioned away from windows, doors, vents and ductwork. For more safety tips to better prepare your home, visit Kidde.com. Provided by Kidde.com and Family Features Inspired Space: Turn yard into destination CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1H Contact James Emolo at [email protected]. CUSTOM PUB SPECIALISTS James Emolo and Joseph Ritacco NORTH JERSEY MEDIA GROUP 1 Garret Mountain Plaza, PO Box 471 Woodland Park, NJ 07424 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE ADVERTORIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE RECORD AND HERALD NEWS To advertise, call 973-569-7800. For content, call 973-569-7895 or email [email protected] Copyright © 2020 North Jersey Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of NJMG is strictly prohibited. Its tiles are made of recycled material in a variety of colors like Caribbean Blue. Another transformation for a patio or deck can be as simple as a coat of paint. Designer Tess Giuliani of her eponymous Ridgewood firm turned a large deck from ordinary to a watery blue with giant koi and lotus flowers, using Sherwin-Williams deck paint. Not that creative? Cording said just painting the patio, perhaps a neutral tan, will cure the concrete blahs. LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE Not only does lighting set the tone, but “it creates an atmosphere, a nice ambi- ence,” said Tomianne Pagano, owner of Any Excuse for a Party in Fairfield. To give your yard a relaxing glow the whole family will enjoy, consider lining the perimeter of the yard with fairy or string lighting and hanging battery-operated lights on your umbrellas. “LED systems are phenomenal,” said Cording, adding that a homeowner can easily See INSPIRED SPACE, Page 4H PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKUB MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES String lights and creative light fixtures turn this patio into an evening dining experience. Sterl Kitchens Co. Inc. Family Owned & Operated Since 1945 75 YEARS OF SAVINGS, SELECTION & SERVICE YES WE ARE OPEN SHOP FROM HOME WITH LIVE ASSISTANCE FROM OUR DESIGNERS WE ARE DESIGNING AND SELLING KITCHENS VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE ON ANY DEVICE: PHONE OR TABLET OR COMPUTER SAMPLES AVAILABLE AT YOUR HOME VIA UPS PHOTO COURTESY OF WHAT’S BLOOMING? This herringbone brick design is almost carpet-like as it defines the edges of the garden. Temporary phone & text [phone] Screen share link is at www.SterlKitchens.com PLEASE CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR ONLINE APPOINTMENT! Walkways: Cost varies based on choice of materials CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1H 50% OFF Most American Brand Cabinets Convenient open stock from our warehouse inventory WWW.STERLKITCHENS.COM 5426 TONNELLE AVENUE US . 1&9 NORTH NORTH BERGEN 201.866.7999 STOCK & CUSTOM CABINETS can be seen in gardens throughout the area. But the material is also available with rust or tan overtones. Other natural stone products contain reds and greens, as well. You can find stone with either a smooth or a textured surface. A well-stocked stone yard will have a display area to help pick the right stone for your pathway. Stone is sold on pallets. Wicki distin- guishes between horizontal and vertical pallets. Smaller irregularly shaped and cut pieces come on horizontal pallets. Large stone is shipped on vertical pallets. “When we ship, we try to get the stone as close to the worksite as possible,” said Nordstrom. A gravel walk installed will cost about $3 to $6 per square foot. A brick or concrete paver path will cost $5 to $25 per square foot. A natural stone walk will cost between $10 and $30 per square foot, according to Home Advisor, a company that links home- owners with contractors. WALKWAY INSTALLATION Most walks are at least 36 inches wide, but to accommodate two people using it at the same time, the walk will be 48 or even 60 inches wide. “But if the walkway is going through a garden, I like to make it as narrow as possible because I don’t want to give up garden space. I sometimes go down to 18 inches wide for that type of path,” said Goldfarb. Formal walks are often set in mortar, but casual paths are often set on a sand base. “People just need to know the dimensions of their path and we can tell them how much stone and base material they will need,” said Nordstrom. If the path will be a DIY project, call 811 before doing anything. It is the national call-before-you-dig number. When you call, you will be put in touch with someone from your local utility who will mark the location of buried utilities. Once you have the “all clear,” start by marking the layout on the ground. You can use two garden hoses to layout curved walks. Run a 2x4 piece of lumber between the hoses so that the width of the path stays constant throughout its length. If you are using stepping stones lay them out in a dry run. That way you can mark the location of each when it comes time to dig. You will need to dig down the thickness of the stone, usually about 1 1/2 inches plus about 6 inches for the base. With the sod removed, tamp the bare ground. You can use a hand tamper or rent a power tamper for big jobs. Add about 4 inches of quarry process, which is a mix of small pieces of gravel and stone screenings. Tamp this down as well. Tamping helps prevent heaving when the ground freezes and then thaws. Add a layer of stone dust or sand and then set the stone. Use a rubber mallet to level the stone. Short casual paths make for a good weekend project, but for larger jobs hire a professional to get the path done right.