Plant Cold Resistant Palm Trees in Your Yard

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Normally, palm trees are associated with tropical climates, so it comes as a surprise to many that there are cold resistant palm trees which can tolerate even subzero winter temperatures. There are various species of these palm trees which thrive successfully in areas in the north or in states like California, Florida, and Texas.

Here are some cold resistant palm trees you may want to consider for your own lawn, along with their threshold of cold tolerance:

– Windmill Palm Tree (aka Chusan Palm or Chinese Windmill) – cold resistant to 5 degrees

– Mediterranean Fan Palm – cold resistant to 5 to 15 degrees

– Pindo Palm Tree (aka Jelly Palm) – cold resistant to 12 – 15 degrees

– California Fan Palm – cold resistant to 15 degrees

– Canary Islands Date Palm – cold resistant to 15 to 18 degrees

– Texas Sabal Palm Tree – cold resistant to 16 to 18 degrees

– True Date Palm Tree (aka Date Palm or Edible Date Palm) – cold resistant to 18 degrees

– Mexican Fan Palm (aka Washingtonia robusta or Mexican Washingtonia) – cold resistant to 18 degrees

– Sago Palm – cold resistant to 20 degrees

– Queen Palm Tree (aka Cocos Palm) – cold resistant to 20 degrees

Planting and Care of Cold Resistant Palm Trees

The microclimate in your area and the specific conditions of the palm tree to be planted can determine whether the palm will grow successfully. The condition of the palm tree when the cold spell starts, such as its age, hereditary characteristics, height, and general health also play a big role in how well the tree will be able to tolerate the cold weather.

Cold resistant palm trees will fare better if they are planted where shrubs and other trees can shelter them, instead of planting them where they are fully exposed to the harsh winter cold. Ideally, you should choose a warm and sunny location for your cold resistant palm trees. In addition, plant them where they will be shielded from the north and west winter winds.

If you already have these cold resistant palm trees in your yard, you can assist their growth and protect them during a very cold winter by wrapping their trunks. You can also cover small palms with a cardboard box or even a blanket secured by rocks for several days during a cold snap. You can also bury cold resistant palm trees in mulch for protection.

Need a Landscaper?

If you need help planting or caring for cold resistant palm trees, Seva Call can get you the help you need quickly and for free. Tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll connect you with qualified landscapers in your area. Call us now.

Tags: Cold Resistant Palm Trees
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Steps to Refurbishing Wood Floors

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Occasionally, old wooden floors require maintenance to stay looking good, stain-free and protected against wear. Wood floors that have been coated with varnish, lacquer, or shellac will need to be refinished entirely if there are areas where the finish has faded completely.

A complete refurbishing job requires sanding and refinishing of the whole floor. If the floors are still in relatively good condition and just a little worn in some areas, simply re-coat the worn sections with the appropriate sealer, clean, and polish the floor well.

If refurbishing wood floors completely, follow these steps:

Step 1: Remove debris from the entire floor surface by vacuuming.

Step 2: Floors with worn finish need to be sanded either by hand or using an electric sander.

First, use 60-grit sandpaper to remove the old coat and even out any scratches on the floor. Next, use a finer grit sandpaper (120-grit) to re-sand the floor.

For softwood flooring, use sandpaper with even finer coarse, such as 150-grit sandpaper.

Step 3: Vacuum the floor to remove all the dust from sanding. Afterwards, use a cloth to wipe the floor to make sure all particles are removed.

Step 4: If you have bare wooden floors with dark stains, you can apply bleach to the stains to get rid of them. Make sure the bleach does not get into the glued seams.

Rinse off the bleach once the stains have lightened. Never use bleach on your wood floors if any type of finish has been applied on them, because the finish will certainly be damaged.

Step 5: Prepare to apply sealer to the floor. First, protect the baseboards from the sealer by taping their bottom parts along the floor’s edges.

Proceed with painting the floor. To touch up a slightly worn wood floor with penetrating sealer, apply a thin layer of the sealer over the worn out areas. Instead of the typical method of using a paintbrush, rub the sealer on the floor using a soft cloth. Other than this, follow the directions for use on the product container.

When refurbishing wood floors completely, the entire surface should be resealed by applying an even coat of surface finish or penetrating sealer to the whole floor.

Step 6: When the first coat of sealer has completely dried, apply a second layer. While this step is optional, it is recommended, because it makes the pigmented sealer appear darker and offers a thicker protective layer to the surface finish.

Step 7: Peel off the tape from your baseboards.

Need the Help of a Handyman?

When refurbishing wood floors is more than you can handle, call in a reliable handyman. Use Seva Call to speak with the right person to do the job. Our service is quick and free. Try us today!

Tags: Refurbishing Wood Floors
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Asphalt Roof Shingles Colors

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Asphalt roof shingles are a very popular roofing material for a number of reasons, including durability and competitive costs. Also, they are available in a wide range of colors, satisfying most tastes and needs. When it comes to choosing asphalt roof shingles colors, there are several factors to consider to be happy with your choice and the end result, namely the roof of your house.

Here are some tips to help you pick the color of your asphalt roof shingles.

Don’t Choose Your Asphalt Roof Shingles Colors from a Catalog Only

Asphalt roof shingles are available in many colors, but when you pick your shingle shade, it’s important to see the real thing before purchasing it. Colors can vary on paper or on a computer screen. To be sure you get what you want, ask the roofer to show you asphalt shingles in different colors, and think about how they would look on your roof.

Express Your Style with Asphalt Roof Shingles Colors

Each house should express the individuality of the owner. This is true for the roof as well. When you choose the color of your asphalt shingles, you will probably be drawn to particular colors, which can vary, depending on taste and style.

One thing to remember though, when you pick the color of your asphalt shingle, is to try to see the whole picture. Picture your house with that shingle color on it, and see if it fits.

Architectural Style and Asphalt Roof Shingles Colors

Some shingle colors are better suited to particular architectural styles, just as some houses look better with a certain shingle shade than another does. The roof of your house and the house itself are a whole, so you need to find the best option available when it comes to roof shingle colors in order to add value to your house.

Confused about choosing between the many asphalt shingle colors available? Contact Seva Call and we’ll connect you with a local expert who can make it easier for you.

Tags: Asphalt Roof Shingles Colors
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Bay Window Installation

Monday, January 6th, 2014

If you want to improve the curb appeal of your house, either because you’re planning to sell it, or simply because you want to enhance its appearance, you might consider replacing your old front windows with a new bay window.

What Are the Advantages of Bay Window Installation?

Bay Window Visual Impact

A bay window can give your house a completely new look, highlighting its architectural design, and making it stand out among the surrounding houses. Together with landscaping details, it can create a great impression on the people passing by or on those who visit your house.

Enjoy More Light with Your New Bay Window

Bay window installation is not only aesthetically appealing, but also functional. Once you replace your old windows with a bay window, you’ll get more natural light inside the house. This will reflect on the room, creating a fresh and new perspective. It might even motivate you to redecorate or make some changes to emphasize the features of the room.

Bay Window Style

Before you proceed with bay window installation, you need to give some thought to style considerations. If you want your bay window to increase the value of your property, attract potential buyers, or simply improve the curb appeal of your home, you need to make sure it matches the overall style of your house. Otherwise, you might achieve a contrary effect.

Consult with your contractor, and compare various styles before you make up your mind.

Bay Window Size

You can choose to install a bay window, which fits in the space occupied by your old window, or you can make it larger. In the latter case, besides becoming more labor-intensive, your home improvement project will also cost you more. Weigh your options and budget, and decide what is best for you.

Need an Expert?

If you want to install a bay window to make your property more visually appealing, and increase its value, Seva Call can put you in touch with an expert in your area. With us, you’re just a few clicks away from the right professional.

Tags: Bay Window Installation
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5 Great Money-Saving Online Tools

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Written by Dallea Caldwell

Time is money. Through exercise and healthy choices, you can make an investment of your time and watch it accrue interest, adding years to your life. With friends and family, you can spend time and gain something more valuable in return. And time, like money, can be wasted quicker than MC Hammer’s royalty payments.

The average American is online about 13 hours per week. That’s after the ol’ 9-to-5, the mind-numbing commute, and scrambling to pull a meal together. That’s almost 2 extra hours with us not being fully present with our children, friends, and family. Is that time invested, well-spent, or just wasted?

Here are some smart, money-saving online tools that save time and money- turning your web-browser into your command center for success.

Moneycrashers.com: The finance and lifestyle guidance blog lets you surf the web while staying on top of the tumultuous economic waves. Find out what’s new in money-saving and business development strategies, and explore under-appreciated takes on budget issues like the importance of financial role-modeling for your children.

GasBuddy: For once and for all, the executive branch has little-to-no control over the per barrel gas-prices. So quit voting with your gas tank and start comparison shopping. GasBuddy lets you compare has prices at stations near you, which can vary as much as 10%-20% from block to block.

Mint: Our least favorite friend Bill visits multiple times monthly and is never late. So, when he pays you a visit you didn’t prepare for… it’s you who pays most dearly. Mint is a free financial management service where you can track and classify your assets and expenses all in one place. It even notifies you when Bill comes a-knocking.

FreeCycle: Love free useful stuff, but feel weird trying to get it from your great aunt’s will? Then Freecyle is a great resource for shopping other people’s trash to get free treasures to call your own. Sure beats retail therapy, or trying to make up for three decades of completely ignoring older well-to-do relatives.

Bankrate: There’s nothing wrong with being a little (or a lot) calculating when it comes to making financial decisions like choosing the best credit card company/mortgage lender/etc. for you. Bankrate lets consumers review and rate financial service providers. It’s also equipped with a number of useful calculators for car loans, mortgages, and amortization/repayment schedules.

TalkLocal: We’d frankly be remiss if we didn’t mention that with zero required online research on your part, you can comparison shop between three top-rated service providers that match your schedule, location, and job needs. Our algorithm ensures that the cheapest will still be one of the best pros for you. Just enter your service needs and stand by for a phone call through a secure line. So, after only a couple of highly productive minutes, you’re already free to play BeJeweled or something.

No More Wasting Time on the Internet

If you’ve ever even heard of the internet (and you obviously have), then you know that knowledge isn’t necessarily power anymore. Like if, for example, your idea of being informed is knowing what flower girl dress Kim and Kanye bought for North. So, if your web-use primarily consists of Puppy Learns to Howl extended remix edition, then please stop — Hammer Time has run out.

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The Cost of Replacing Laptop Battery

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Is your laptop battery giving out much sooner now? Do you need to plug your laptop into an AC outlet more frequently than you used to or maybe all time because the battery is not charging?

If so, it appears the battery has come to the end of its life and needs to be replaced. In this case, brace yourself for the potential cost – replacing laptop battery is expensive.

Comparing Prices

The range of prices for a replacement battery varies depending on the model. However, it’s not strange to see new battery packs selling for at least $100, which is quite steep when you consider that this is about 1/4 of the price of some brand-new units.

At $50 average minimum cost, replacing laptop battery can certainly create a dent on the finances of an average person. Therefore, it is perfectly understandable why many are patiently scouring for a bargain. Start to research your options at the website of your laptop’s manufacturer, compare prices, and warranty details.

Third-party suppliers

You may be able to find a good deal from third-party suppliers of laptop parts and peripherals that are selling the same name-brand battery you need at a discount. When considering this option, always choose a reputable supplier, and take note of product warranty terms and conditions.

Buy a Fresh Battery

You may be working on a budget, but there’s no valid reason to waste your money buying a used laptop battery. Make sure to check the battery’s manufacture date; you don’t want anything that is more than a year and a half old.

Never Buy Based on Cost Alone

There are some components and accessories of a laptop where you can afford to scrimp and go for the much cheaper option, but not with the battery. One thing to remember is never to buy a replacement battery just because of the price.

Lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries are known to have safety issues because of their tendency to produce a chain reaction that can result in overheating and, eventually, fires or a rare explosion. A cheap, substandard Li-Ion presents a serious fire hazard risk.

Always consider other factors such as quality and safety when buying a replacement battery. The cost of replacing a laptop battery is nothing compared to the cost of a potential injury or property loss.

Need Expert Laptop Battery Repair?

It may be that your laptop battery doesn’t need replacement, but repair work. A computer repair specialist should be able to help you determine this and fix the battery, if needed. TalkLocal can match you with the right technician in just a few minutes. We’ll connect you with the right professionals in your area in just minutes.

Tags: Replacing Laptop Battery
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Investing in the Most Efficient HVAC System

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

If you’re looking to replace your existing HVAC system, now is the perfect time to invest in the most suitable and most efficient HVAC system for your home. HVAC systems today feature higher energy efficiency than ever before with new eco-friendly refrigerants, and are manufactured to last longer than older systems.

Here are more reasons why you should choose the most efficient HVAC system you can afford:

Enjoy Greater Level of Comfort

You will enjoy greater comfort in your home with a high-efficiency AC system. Today’s central AC systems have features that work to create a more comfortable indoor environment such as consistent airflow that allows constant supply of fresh and cool air inside your home.

The system’s high-efficiency air filters keep the air clean from contaminants and harmful microorganisms that can cause allergies and other respiratory problems. New HVAC systems also reduce variations in temperature between rooms inside the home so that temperature is consistent in all rooms.

Enjoy Cost Savings

If there’s one thing that high-efficiency HVAC systems are meant to do, it’s to lower operating costs. It’s just a matter of choosing the most efficient HVAC system that will suit your needs.

Modern systems also feature better technology to control humidity, which means you can adjust the thermostat a bit higher and still remain more comfortable than you normally would. This alone can give you savings during summer when you don’t have to make the AC work harder. The lower energy consumption would pay for the cost of the new system within a year or two.

Minimize Environmental Effects.

With the effects of climate change being seen more and more, many homeowners are looking to reduce the environmental impact of their homes. By using the most efficient HVAC system you can afford to invest in, you are doing your part in saving the environment, since the system needs less fuel to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Need Professional HVAC Installation?

Whether you need to install your new high-efficiency HVAC unit, or you require emergency service or preventive maintenance on your system, TalkLocal is ready to help you find the right professionals for your job now. Simply let us know what service you’re looking for, and we’ll match you with three qualified and reputable service professionals located in your area. Use Seva Call now!

Tags: Most Efficient HVAC System
Posted in Heating and Cooling | No Comments »

How to Install a Satellite Dish on Your Home

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

Want to know how to install a satellite dish onto your home? Here is a helpful infographic to guide you.

Setting up your own satellite and receiving a strong signal doesn’t have to be difficult, and you can do it without the help of a trained workforce of men armed with ladders! Follow these simple steps to set-up and install your own satellite dish and make watching TV even more satisfying!

If you would rather speak with a qualified professional who knows how to install a satellite dish, just use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three professionals in your area in just minutes, for free!

Posted in talklocal, TV Repair | No Comments »

Physical Therapy Knee Injury

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

Knee injuries are very painful and always manage to disrupt our normal balance. Fortunately, physical therapy conducted under the close supervision of a gifted specialist can be considered the best solution to this pressing problem. Here’s all the info that you may need on physical therapy knee injury policies and best practices.

Physical Therapy Can Be as Effective as Surgery in Some Cases

Are you afraid to go under the knife? If so, rest at ease knowing that, in some cases, the right type of physical therapy can successfully replace surgery. A damaged meniscus, those extremely important shock-absorbers in our knees, can be repaired by doctors through surgery.

However, recent studies indicate appropriate physical exercises contribute to a full recovery in a non-invasive manner and can be considered a viable substitute for surgery.

Opt for the Right Set of Low-Impact Physical Exercises

Whatever you do, it is imperative to consult an experienced therapist before embracing a certain workout, designed to get you back on your feet. Discuss your options with a specialist and opt for a customized set of low-impact physical exercises that could easily enhance your mobility, alleviate your pain, enhance blood flow, and speed up the recovery process.

If surgery is mandatory in your case, let your surgeon know that you’re planning to go for a particular workout routine, and ask for his/her opinion on this matter.

Identifying the Right Exercises for You

There are numerous forms of physical therapy knee injury. They can be personalized according to your age, physical condition, type of injury, and specific goals. Most of them include basic exercises, including the following:

– Knee flexion and knee extension

– Straight leg raise

– Ankle pumps

– Sitting knee extensions

– Gluteal exercise

Rely on an Expert Opinion

Looking for the very best physical therapy knee injury? If so, start by meeting the most competent chiropractors in your area. Find them fast and effortlessly with TalkLocal, your number one connection to the best professionals in your area.

Tags: Physical Therapy Knee Injury
Posted in Chiropractors | No Comments »

Handyman Certifications

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

When you need professional help to conduct important home improvement projects, it is advisable to hire competent, licensed, certified, and fully-trained specialists who live and work in your area.

This way, you’ll be able to prevent costly scams and unpleasant surprises and obtain excellent results on time and on a budget. Here are a few basic things that you should know about handyman certifications.

License Requirements

The fact that you have basic handyman skills doesn’t actually turn you into a respectable professional. To get many clients and make a name for yourself as a handyman, you have to graduate a technical school, pass training courses, and take pride in years of hands-on experience. Note that license requirements for handymen contractors vary a great deal by state.

Reasons Why It’s Important to Hire ACHP Members

Experienced handymen can complete a variety of assignments, with different levels of complexity. From timely solutions to painting, plumbing, heating, and cooling problems to home inspections, architectural services, and expert guidance around the clock, the real pros in this line of business offer you the assistance you may need to turn your home and/or business into a truly comfortable environment.

The Association of Certified Handyman Professionals (ACHP) based in Florida gathers respectable, knowledgeable handymen who provide premium, decently-priced services.

ACHP makes it easy for people to locate a trustworthy handyman and offers them all the references they may require to make an informed decision. Handyman who have the ACHP certification are licensed, trained, and eager to respond to your emergency calls at any given point in time.

Opt for UHA-Certified Companies

Always choose to collaborate with businesses certified by the United Handyman Association (UHA). They provide more than satisfactory services and offer you a much-appreciated fraud protection guarantee.

Ask an Expert

Want to find out more about handyman certifications? In this case, meet the most competent handymen in your area and get the most accurate answers to all your questions. Use TalkLocal, a free concierge service that connects you with gifted professionals who operate in your area.

Tags: Handyman Certifications
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