www.eastcobber.com20 March 2012 East CobbER www.eastcobber.com20 March 2012 East CobbER

Home & Garden Guide

Kelly & Steven Sanders Owners, Mosquito Squad of Marietta

is this product safe to use around kids and/or pets?We use only enough product to target a 2.5 milligram mosquito. Unlike

mammals, mosquitoes lack enzymes to break down the product, which means we can use a very small amount strategically placed to achieve control of nui-sance pests. In comparison, a small pet is about 6 kilograms (that’s 6 million milligrams or 2.4 million times as big). All we ask is that the treatment is allowed to dry.

Frank Pologruto Decks & More

What do you think about the new composite decking products? We prefer the new capped composite decking products (capped composite means the regular composite

deck board has thin layer of PVC over the composite materials). This thin layer of PVC really protects the deck boards and provides a stronger, more color resistant and scratch resistant product. There are many decking products out there. At Decks & More, we prefer to use Timber Tech decking products or Azek Decking, a true PVC decking. At Decks & More, we look forward to serving you and your family. Our mission is simple: “We listen to the people we serve and serve them well.”

Charlie dallavalle Owner, Painting Plus, Inc.

ron Coker Jr. President, Artistic Pools Inc.

evan rogers Owner, Scapes

How do i verify if a contractor is licensed and their company history?

does a swimming pool add value to a home?

I would recommend looking at the Georgia Secretary of State web site. You’ll want to dig deep to get an idea of his or her business history. This means requesting — and duly verifying — proof that he or she is currently state licensed, paying employees legally and carrying workers’ compensation, property damage and liability insurance. Membership with a reputable professional association is also a good sign. On a similar note, find out if the contractor has ever declared bankruptcy or if anyone has ever taken legal action against him or her.

The value of a pool is determined not only from the joy and pleasure that swimming pro-vides, but how the pool structure itself aesthetically blends into the house and topography. If the pool area is properly designed and positioned, it becomes more than a body of water to swim in. It becomes an outdoor room of the house where family and guests can congregate. Outdoor fire-places and kitchens as well as moving water effects like boulder waterfalls can all play a part in creating an integrated backyard environment. Value lies in the blending.

Where is the best place to start when considering improvements to my outdoor space?

For many, the best place to start is with an overall landscape plan. You can combine all of the features you would like to include regarding your hardscape like patios, play sets, outdoor kitchens or water features. Then integrate them into a cohesive plan for all of the new and existing landscape plantings. A well thought out plan is the key to a successful garden, especially one that you build in phases over a few seasons.

abstract Letter Photography

Framing photos and artwork can be so expensive! How can i display abstract Letter Photography in a creative and inexpensive way?

Instead of spending money on expensive large frames and matting, try framing your letters in individual 4”x6” frames and arranging them on a book shelf or picture ledge. You can get creative with frame styles and colors and can even change the frames seasonally if you wish! Note: All framing as shown in the photo (on the right) was done for under $3 a frame including materials!

East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 21 East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 21

Frank Pologruto Decks & More

www.eastcobber.com22 March 2012 East CobbER www.eastcobber.com22 March 2012 East CobbER

Home & Garden Guide

don’t miss the Spring atlanta Home Show!Mark your calendar for the 34th Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show which will take place March 23-25

at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Visitors will experience the season’s largest marketplace for home improvement products and services, featuring everything from flooring, window and door experts to home-cleaning products, lawn and garden specialists and everything in between. More than 350 exhibitors will be on hand to answer questions and give advice at this three-day event, and HGTV’s The Kitchen Cousins headline the Atlanta Home Show Stage. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.atlantahomeshow.com

Georgia daffodil Society annual Show Blooms at Chattahoochee nature Center Kingfisher Hall will once again bask in the gold, yellow, white and pink glow of hundreds of daffodils as The Georgia Daffodil

Society presents its annual show. Spreading the joy of growing daffodils and educating the public has been the core of this Society’s mission since its founding in 1954. Every year sees outstanding daffodils from a range of climates. Entries totaling nearly 500 blooms will come from Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. Many exhibitors grow hundreds of varieties, while others grow just a few. Newcomers, regardless of age, are encouraged to enter their blooms. You may enter your blooms on Friday, March 16th, from 12pm to 6:00pm and Saturday morning from 7:30am to 9:30am. The show is open to the public on Saturday, March 17th, from 10am to 5pm, and is included in general admission. Chattahoochee Nature

Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. More info: 770-992-2055, darrinsdaffs@gmail.com, or www.chattnaturecenter

roswell Woman’s Club 2012 Showcase Home Tour Presents Their 16th annual Showcase Home

Retired Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Mark Wohlers and his wife Kimberly invite you to Home Plate, the Roswell Woman’s Club 2012 Showcase Home. Destroyed by a fire in 2011, the Wohler’s family residence is now being rebuilt with a purpose. Home Plate has a legacy of gratitude for the Wohlers and through this fundraiser they are expressing their deep appreciation for the community who ‘came to bat’ during their tragedy. The 2012 Showcase Tour will be open April 29 through May 20, 2012, from 10am to 6pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 1pm to 6pm on Sundays. Ticket and tour information is available at www.roswellwomansclub.org. Through the past fifteen Showcase Home Tours, Roswell Woman’s Club, a volunteer service organization, has contributed over $1.6 million dollars to non-profit charitable organizations, educational scholarships, educational grants and special projects.

East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 23 East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 23

Keeping You Comfortable For 50 Years.

E. Smith Heating and Air Conditioning has been earning your trust since 1962. Our professionally trained staff will make your home and business comfortable year round. Experience Excellence, call us today.

SPECIAL OFFERReceive 10% off Quality Service*

* Residential single-family service calls only; does not apply to agreements or equipment purchases, cannot be combined with other offers. Offer ends March 31, 2012.

(770) 422-1900 | www.esmithair.comE. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning | 964 Industrial Park Dr. | Marietta, GA 30062

License # CN-006054

Building the Most Beautiful Pools in the WorldServing North

Georgia Since 1957

Pool ConstructionPool Renovation

Pool houses/CabanasOutdoor Kitchens

Fireplaces

3884 North Peachtree RoadAtlanta, GA 30341770-458-9177

www. artisticpools.com

The mark of legendarycraftsmanship from 1957-2012

www.eastcobber.com24 March 2012 East CobbER www.eastcobber.com24 March 2012 East CobbER

Home & Garden Guide

Scott Saffran, mBa, CSaOwner, The Garage Dude

Jordan HessLiving Water Landscapes

How do i clean up my garage and get things organized?

i would love a water feature in my yard, but i’m concerned about the maintenance. are ponds difficult to maintain?

If your garage has gotten to the point where you can’t find anything, can’t park your car inside or gives you stress every time you look at it, it is time to call a garage professional. When focusing on the garage, look for a company that will help with all aspects of the garage makeover. These include: clean-up, organization, storage solutions, flooring and maintenance. A good garage professional will work closely with you to help sort through the chaos, and create a flexible and aesthetically pleasing solution that reduces stress and makes you proud to show off to your family, friends and neighbors.

The greatest pond myth! While ponds do require maintenance, they take less time to maintain than a lawn or hot tub and require no chemicals or expensive test kits! The ecosystem approach works like magic: filtration, rocks, gravel, aquatic plants, fish and beneficial bacteria all work together to deliver clear, healthy water. A properly designed ecosystem pond works with Mother Nature, not against her. For a maintenance-free water feature, consider a “pond-less” waterfall or disappearing stream.

elisabeth Stubbs Owner, Enhance Floors & More

raymond Gunsauley, Co-Owner, WestPort Development

Which carpets clean up best – especially with children and pets?

Solution dyed nylon, olefin (also known as polypropylene) and Triexta (SmartStrand). These fibers can be cleaned very aggressively without damage to the carpet. Also, carpets with color flecks help to hide stains and dirt.

Why should i choose a Georgia Certified Lead Based Paint renovation Firm?

When painting or renovating any home built pre-1978, a certified renovation firm is the safe choice and it’s the law. Since July 2011, all contractors performing renovation, repair, and painting projects must be certified by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Lead based paint is especially harmful to children 7 and younger, infants, and expectant mothers. WestPort is committed to the health and safety of our clients’ families.

debbie abernathy, Owner E. Smith Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

i have always heard that maintenance agreements are a waste of money. Why should i purchase one for my heating and air conditioning system?

For many items, a maintenance agreement could be a waste of dollars. However, your HVAC system is a major investment and some component of your system is at work 24/7. Actually, your home climate system has more working hours than your automobile which you maintain regularly. A properly maintained system is more efficient and comfortable, has fewer breakdowns, and will last longer. In fact, according to a study at LSU, a properly maintained system can save an average of $50.00 per air conditioning month over a poorly maintained system.

East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 25 East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 25

Home & Garden Guide

Organization and Storage Solutions Cabinets Accessories Overhead Storage Racks

Call The Dude Today for a Free Estimate!!! Cell: 678.637.9680

www.thegaragedude.com

Mention this ad and

receive a 15% discount

Shelving Hooks Flooring

Cabinet re�nishingFaux �nishCustom paintingFurniture painting

Do you knowhow good

your cabinets can look ?

770. 953. 0006WWW.LUMINAINTERIORS.COMa

desig

n

umin

debbie abernathy, Owner E. Smith Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

Support Our Advertisers

www.eastcobber.com26 March 2012 East CobbER www.eastcobber.com26 March 2012 East CobbER

Home & Garden Guide

What’s the latest craze to hit homes across America? It’s Water Gardening and people are jumping in on it, with both feet (literally). A water garden is a simple water feature, better known as a garden pond. Now, don’t think it’s one of those cement, mucky, dirty-looking green fish ponds you may have seen before. A water garden is a liv-ing ecological entity. It has a waterfall, rocks, water lilies, aquatic flowers, underwater lights, and of course, beauti-ful, colorful fish. The water is crystal clear and you can see all the way to the bottom. It’s a very hot trend right now, and a recent poll (USA Today) reported that water features topped the list of landscape improvements homeowners want to make in the next year.

Water gardens are clean and very low maintenance. You can maintain one in as little as 15 minutes, once a month. You don’t even have to feed the fish! Mother Nature takes care of everything. “I love how easy it is to clean my water garden, I just open the skimmer, empty the net, and I’m done. Before, I’d spend hours trying to clean it and it was still dirty,” says George Robinson.

Water gardens can be installed practically anywhere. They only require about two feet of water. It doesn’t mat-ter if you live in the city or the suburbs, if you have a big backyard or small one. A water garden is custom designed to fit you. “I have a small house in the city with a tiny backyard. I never dreamed a water garden could fit back there, but it did! I love it. It’s made my dull backyard into my own little tropical paradise,” says Jean Rogers.

People love water gardening because they are sooth-ing, tranquil, and a haven of rest. In a day and age where you are constantly bothered by traffic, cell phones, comput -ers, and faxes, it’s very soothing to have a place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. One amazing thing people find with water gardens is that they can actually communicate with each other again. Unlike a TV, which actually distracts and hinders commu-nication, people find they can strengthen relationships and have better conversations around their pond. As Mary Cartwright observes, “The kids are just fas-cinated with the water garden. They sit there for hours watching the fish. Even our dog, Spike, likes to play with the fish. I much more prefer my kids interacting with nature than playing those mind-numbing, violent video games.”

Here in Atlanta, there are thousands of great water gar- dens, but sadly, there are many dysfunctional ones as well. The greatest recommendation in water gardening is to work with a specialist, someone who works exclusively on water gardens and ponds. Here in East Cobb, Living Water Landscapes builds amazing ponds and waterfalls, with excellent customer service. Their website, www.LivingWaterLandscapes.com is a great source of information and inspiration. You can visit them March 21-23 at the Atlanta Home show, or call them anytime at 770-685-0742.

Water Gardens Create a Tropical Paradise

in Your Backyard andIncrease Your Property Values

P A I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

This

is a

pro

of o

f you

r EA

ST C

OBB

ER a

d. P

leas

e re

view

the

entir

e ad

and

indi

cate

any

revi

sion

s th

at a

re n

eces

sary

. Pl

ease

not

e th

at a

ny re

desi

gn o

r exc

essi

ve p

roof

s (m

ore

than

2) w

ill re

sult

in a

dditi

onal

art

char

ges.

By

app

rovi

ng th

is p

roof

you

ack

now

ledg

e th

at a

ll ar

twor

k pr

ovid

ed is

not

regi

stere

d or

pro

tect

ed b

y co

pyrig

ht la

ws

of th

e U

nite

d St

ates

and

the

EAST

CO

BBER

is n

ot re

spon

sibl

e fo

r any

err

ors

in a

rt or

ad

copy

. Pl

ease

che

ck y

our a

d co

py c

aref

ully

, bei

ng s

ure

to c

heck

the

follo

win

g:

Hea

dlin

e

Add

ress

(es)

Phon

e #

O

ffers

M

apEx

p. D

ate

Cha

rges

: Ve

rsio

n 1:

No

char

ge; V

ersi

on 2

: No

char

ge; V

ersio

n 3:

$20

sur

char

ge; V

ersio

n 4:

+$2

0 su

rcha

rge

We

look

forw

ard

to y

our p

rom

pt re

spon

se.

Than

k yo

u fo

r cho

osin

g th

e EA

ST C

OBB

ER to

pro

mot

e yo

ur b

usin

ess.

Offi

ce: 7

70-6

40-7

070

FA

X: 7

70-5

59-3

185

P.O

. Box

672

121

Mar

ietta

, GA

300

06

P A I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

march 30 & 31 9am-4pm, & april 14 9am-1pm

The Greyhound GreenhousePope High School

3001 Hembree Road, Marietta 30062More info: joe.green@cobbk12.org

or www.popehorticulture.com

Pope High School Horticulture 12th annual Spring Plant Sale

East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 27 East CobbERwww.eastcobber.com March 2012 27

• Siding • gutterS• Painting • roofing

www.paintingplus.com404-410-0990

A division of Plus Services, Inc

Serving Metro Atlanta Since 1998

gutter cleaning

$125 $300 off complete exterior paint or siding job