Remodeling to Add Space: Roofing

Monday, September 16th, 2013

You may be remodeling to add space to your house, and you may need to expand your roof to accommodate a new wing. Here, we show you how to add a new roof to your new space.

Roof Extension

This is a roofing option where you add the roof to the gable area located right at the end of the house. It’s a fairly easy solution, because you are simply adding more roof to an existing space. This solution is low-cost and simple, though unusual because it usually occurs at the back or front of the house where your yard space is located, and you have to take into account the average roof size as well.

Shed Roof

Many house owners will find this to be the most simple and most cost-effective solution. It’s a simple roof that is attached to the house at the highest point and slopes down to the addition’s outer wall. However, it is not really that attractive and some neighborhoods have various codes banning this kind of roofing. This kind of roofing can use shingles to make it more attractive, but it doesn’t do much.

Gable Roof

A gable roof is basically made up of two slopes that meet at a higher point in the middle of the roof. This is by far the most attractive option. It will add elegance and sophistication to your house and it will make it look as if the addition that you made was actually part of your house to begin with. The gable roof is preferable to any other type of roofing because of this feature. It is more expensive to build, but the aesthetic value is far more impressive.

Need Help with Roofing?

Want help when remodeling to add space? Contact TalkLocal today and we will help you find a roofing professional near your area!

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How to Plant Cold Resistant Fruit Trees

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Cold Resistant Fruit Trees

Cold resistant fruit trees are a surprise. Most of the fruits that people love to eat are actually cold-resistant. We are talking about peaches, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, and apples. These fruit trees thrive in cold weather and are best planted in the cold season. They are hardy in winter and their fruit can be harvested in the summer months. They are the typical fruits that can be thought of when one pictures eating fruits in childhood: succulent, delicious, and sweet. In this article, we discuss how best to make these fruits thrive in the cold winter months. Do not use herbicide on these trees, though.

Birds and Bees

Buy self-pollinating varieties of these fruit trees so that you don’t need to pollinate them by yourself. Or, you can buy two varieties and cross-pollinate them yourself.

Grow Them Organically

These plants have to get full sunlight, less pesticide, and good fertilizer and will thrive better than plants that get less care. It also keeps plants less prone to insects and pests, which will ruin the leaves and the fruits, and that’s something you never want to happen.

Additionally, you want to be sanitary about them. Keep fallen leaves and fruit away from the plants. Rotting leaves and fruit attract insects and pests and will keep your plants from being healthy. Harvest the fruits of your plants as soon as they mature.

If birds become a problem, cover the fruits of your plants with netting, whether plastic or metal, to keep birds from eating them. You wouldn’t want your fruit to go to waste. Keep your fruit protected at all times.

Getting Professional Help

Here at TalkLocal, we are dedicated to giving you the help that you deserve. Call us today so we can help you find an expert near you.

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How to Care for Rodents

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Rodents

Mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, and hamsters are all rodents. How to care for rodents is relatively simple. These rodents are inexpensive, and caring for them is inexpensive as well. Rodents are found easily in pet stores, but it is recommended that you buy from breeders instead of pet stores to avoid rodents that bite. Additionally, breeders will often have more color varieties that will suit your liking. Rodents are warm-blooded animals and are often fluffy. They are a popular favorites of children because they are usually tame and their temperaments are predictable.

Food

The most popular food for rodents is pellets that can be purchased in pet stores. Feed your rodents once a day and remove any uneaten food the next day. Supplement their diet with fresh food like carrots, cabbages, and other vegetables every day. Be careful not to overfeed them with vegetables, however, or else they may develop diarrhea.

Housing

Cages are the most popular housing available. However, make sure the cages have a solid bottom on which the rodents can stand, because all-wire housing will be painful on their legs. Houses that are too small will be inadequate, too. Aquariums are also a good choice. Place a wire lid over the aquarium for good ventilation.

Water

Make sure fresh water is always available. Water should be given in drip bottles with balls at the end. Change the water daily to make sure it is always fresh. Clean the water bottle at least once a week.

Bedding

Wood shavings are the preferable bedding for the rodents. These can be bought cheaply at pet stores. Change the bedding once every two weeks.

Need a Veterinarian’s Help?

Need help caring for your pet rodent, or worried that your furry friend may be ill? Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you locate a veterinarian near you!

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iPhone Repair Water Damage

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Did you drop your phone and crack the screen? Well, that will probably happen too. But there’s another catastrophic event on the horizon: water damage. If the inevitable water spill or puddle-drop occurs, don’t fret! You still have a chance to save your phone.

First of all, don’t turn on your phone! This can cause further damage. If you were smart enough to purchase insurance (which you should for an iPhone) you may want to take it in for . However, if you don’t have insurance and don’t want to spend a ton of money on a new phone, there’s a chance to save your waterlogged phone. There’s no guarantee of a permanent fix, but the following steps can help salvage a water-damaged iPhone.

iPhone Repair Water Damage

Note: These steps involve taking apart your phone. If you have a warranty, opening the phone will make the agreement null and void. Make sure you know how to put the phone back together and take it apart at your own risk.

1. Remove the SIM tray. Insert the SIM card removal tool or a paper clip into the hole on the bottom of the phone. The SIM card should pop right out.

2. Remove the back bottom case using a case opener. Remove the case carefully by running the tool along the bottom of the back part of the iPhone. Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the three screws under the case.

3. Remove the back base from the frame. Run the case opener tool along both edges of the iPhone. Carefully remove the ribbon attached to both pieces.

4. Carefully remove three antenna cables held on by glue.

5. Remove the 10 screws on the outside of the case and one screw underneath a piece of tape. Pull up the piece of tape to unscrew.

6. Remove the screws holding the motherboard together. Carefully pull apart the motherboard. Be careful not to damage the four cables underneath. One of the cables is a latch that you will have to move upright in order to remove it.

7. Pull the motherboard and battery out together. Do not separate the two.

8. Remove the metal frame from the front of the phone.

9. Remove the LCD and Digitizer. Remove them by prying open the tiny clips on each side. Separate them by prying one side and then the other. This part can be difficult, so take your time.

10. Once you take apart the phone, set it out to dry. You can either set it out by a window or you can place the pieces in a bowl of rice to dry.

11. After about 24 hours, put the phone back together. It may help to take pictures as you take apart the phone to remember how to put it back together.

Need More Help?

Keep in mind that this is a last chance option to repair you phone when there is no warranty or insurance available. In this situation, it is best to consult a professional to evaluate the damage and repair the phone. Just tell us what, where, and when you need help, and Sll will connect you to a certified professional in minutes!

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How to Change Coil Spring Suspension

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Coil Spring Suspension

A coil spring is also called a helical spring and is used to store energy and release it. It is also used to absorb shock and maintain forces between two surfaces. They are usually made of elastic materials, which returns to the original shape when released. The springs in a vehicle are one of its hardest working parts because it supports the vehicle one hundred percent of the time. Suspensions are also found in motorcycles. Usually, your suspensions will perform less than perfectly when faced with extreme environments or unusually high loads.

How to Change Coil Spring Suspension

Installing the coil spring suspension on your car requires expert help and specialists. If you are none of these, then you will require help.

Step one requires raising your vehicle so that the tires are off the ground and you can access the oil spring safely. This requires using a hydraulic jack.

Step two is removing the front wheels. This depends on the make and type of the car.

Step three is the removal of the lower ball joint from the car’s control arm. The average size of the nut used for these is 13/16”, so make sure you have a correctly fitting socket.

Step four is removing the strut.

Step five is compressing the coil, and this requires that you observe safety.

Step six consists of installing the new coil spring and finally re-installing the strut again.

For all of these steps, you need the help of an expert, because any of these steps can be potentially dangerous for you. Even step one can mean that the car can fall on you and crush you!

Need Professional Help?

Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you locate a professional near you!

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Perfect Settings for HDTV are a Few Clicks of the Remote Away

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Televisions are an amazing piece of technology today. With that in mind, they can also be an enigma to those lacking technological savvy. The purchase of a new HDTV, after living through the black-and-white TV era and even more recent decades of big and heavy TVs that did a lot less than today’s models, means a bit of adjustment and some work to get the TV to the ideal viewing setup that you prefer.

Calibration is Key to Great Viewing

A disc can be purchased that calibrates the TV for you. This helps with basic cable viewing, special movies, sporting events, and even other uses for the TV. If you are attempting to connect a game console to the TV, for example, it is best to have the TV properly calibrated for optimal game play.

Color and Sharpness Improve Quality Views of Sporting Events

You have a strong desire to watch every football game in the College or NFL season. You start watching and realize the colors of the team jerseys are not quite what you’d see in person. It’s time to adjust the color, and also possibly the sharpness, so you see the play in the end zone as clearly as the referee on the sidelines. In fact, you may see the play more clearly.

Don’t Forget the Sound and Other Considerations.

HDTV sound settings are also important to perfect the viewing experience for the whole family. If you have managed to get all of these settings close to what you’re hoping for, but the TV still isn’t at optimal viewing and listening levels, it’s time to call in a professional. Contact STalkLocal and find the right TV repair expert to come in and have your perfect settings for HDTV for the next family movie night or the big game this weekend.

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Cordless Hand Vacuums

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

We all know just how important it is to count on first-class appliances when it comes to keeping our house 100% clean, dry, and contaminant-free. Unfortunately, the overwhelming plentitude of products aggressively promoted by giant brands often puzzles buyers and makes them indecisive. Keep reading to discover how to identify the perfect cordless hand vacuums for your household, offering you the longest list of benefits and displaying the ideal quality-price relationship.

Basic things you need to know about cordless vacuum cleaners

If you hate small dirt particles hiding in hard-to-reach areas, then a highly effective cordless vacuum cleaner is, by far, the best option for you. Designed to eliminate a wide range of impurities while reaching even the tightest of areas, these helpful appliances will allow you to clean all of your rooms and even your automobile in record time, with minimal effort. They might even trigger financial savings, allowing you to skip one or two visits to the local car wash. All in all, tiny cordless hand vacuums are used to:

a) Clean even the tightest corners of your house

b) Clean hard-to-reach surfaces inside your vehicle

c) Eliminate wet spills

d) Eliminate pet hair

Things you should consider before making a purchase

It goes without saying that, despite the fact that they serve the same purpose, cordless vacuum cleaners launched by different manufacturers are far from being identical. Some represent a smarter investment, so pay attention to these key features before going in favor of a certain model.

1) Battery life: It is advisable to opt for a product with maximized battery life to avoid supplementary expenses. Also, you should know that models with faster-charging batteries are much more energy-efficient than the rest.

2) Weight: The perfect device should be lightweight, allowing you to carry it with you wherever you may go.

3) Capacity: Even if the compact design might reduce the capacity to gather a significant amount of debris, some tiny cordless vacuum cleaners might surprise you with bigger dust bins required by ampler housekeeping assignments.

4) Attachments: Obviously, you should go for a model that comes with a wide range of accessories, serving different purposes, like delicate upholstery brushes, extension wands, and crevice tools.

5) Energy-efficiency: If you want to decrease the value of your utility bills and save energy around the house, make sure to opt for a cutting-edge model displaying a higher level of energy efficiency.

Ask an expert

Are you looking for the best cordless hand vacuums, or perhaps for professional housekeeping services delivered on time and on a strict budget? In this case, count on TalkLocal, your free source of information, designed to help you get in touch with housekeeping experts who will enable you to save time and money while profiting from high-quality services.

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Many BTUs Gallon Heating Oil

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

When dealing with heating and cooling appliances, most homeowners have a lot of questions on their minds. When DIY projects do not represent a valid option, their only hope is to find a competent specialist providing the most effective and inexpensive solutions tailored to their unique problems. Want to discover everything there is to know about many BTUs gallon heating oil? Keep reading to assimilate useful information, brought to you by reputable heating and cooling experts.

What is BTU?

BTU (British thermal unit) is an energy unit representing the equivalent of 1,055 joules, or in plain words, the energy amount required to cool or heat 1 pound of water by 1° Fahrenheit. Want to discover the average heating value of some of the most common fuels that you use regularly?

In this case, you should know that 1 cubic foot of propane equals 2,500 BTU; 1 cubic foot of natural gas equals 1,050 BTU; 1 gallon of gasoline equals 125,000 BTU; one gallon of diesel equals 139,200 BTU; and one gallon of number 2 oil equals 138,500 BTU; while the same quantity of number 6 oil equals 153,200 BTU.

You might be wondering: Why should I assimilate information on many BTUs gallon heating oil that most homes require, and how could it make a difference for me and my family? The answer is simple: The average value of your heating costs depends a great deal on the fuel type that you use (propane gas, natural gas, #2 heating oil) and its BTU indicative. For instance, home heating oil with 140,000 BTUs per gallon with a price ranging from $3.93 to $4.11 per gallon in 2012 for the New York area has a typical efficiency of 78%. Natural gas, with 1,029 BTU per cubic feet was priced at $12 in 2011, and has a typical efficiency of 80%.

How many BTUs does my home actually require?

You might be wondering: how many BTUs does my home actually require? The answer to this question depends on many factors, like for instance the area in which you live, your home’s insulation, and your current heating/cooling system. Despite the fact that now you have access to online calculators indicating different values, the best thing to do is to pay the right price for a Manual J calculation, done by a respectable professional, to determine just how many BTUs your property actually needs.

If you have different, other heating and cooling problems on your mind, just rely on TalkLocal, your trusted source of information, to help locate some of the best specialists in this sector, who are just one phone call away.

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How Are Internet Cookies Used?

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

A cookie is a simple string of text-only information. It is sent by a Web server to a Web browser and is primarily used to identify Internet users. When you go to a website that uses cookies, chances are that you will be requested to provide your personal information, such as your name or e-mail address, in order to create an account at the site or to send a message in the site’s “contact us” form. Whenever you’re filling out such forms, the information you provide is put in a cookie and delivered to your Web browser, which then keeps the cookie for later use.

How Are Internet Cookies Used to Remember You?

When you visit the same website again, the browser will retrieve the cookie and transmit it to the Web server. The message on the cookie allows the Web server to remember you and your login information, as well as provide customized content according to your preferences.

This could mean a website is able to welcome you by name on your next visit or keep you logged in to the site without having to ask you repeatedly to log in. Cookies also make e-commerce possible by keeping track of items added to an online shopping cart. Simply put, cookies make the Internet browsing experience faster, and therefore, more enjoyable.

Are Internet Cookies Used for Other Purposes?

Internet cookies can also be used to analyze the surfing behavior of Internet users within a particular website in order to determine the site’s performance. These types of cookies are used to find out the number of visitors to the site, the most-visited Web pages, and how long users spend on certain Web pages.

Although cookies cannot harm a computer system, they can sometimes be used for malicious purposes, particularly for tracking the online activity of users. These are the types of cookies you don’t want on your computer. Once these tracking cookies have gathered enough information about a user’s surfing habits, the data may be sold to advertisers who would target consumers with ads specific to their interests.

Cookies and Your Privacy

Cookies cannot access and read data from your hard drive to gather information about you. They will, however, store personal information that you freely provide to a website, unless you’ve turned off your browser’s cookie feature.

If you’d like to know more about Internet cookies and how they are used, or if you need any help with computer troubleshooting and repair, you can count on TalkLocal to get you in touch with a qualified computer technician in no time. Save time when you use our service today.

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How to Adjust Trailer Torsion Bars

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

Trailer Torsion Bars

A torsion bar is a weight-bearing suspension bar for any vehicle and is commonly used for trailers. The long metal bar has one end attached to the chassis of the vehicle and one end attached to the lever that is attached to the axle. The vertical motion of the wheel causes the torsion bar to twist around the axis and is resisted by the torsion.

The main disadvantage of torsion bars, unlike coil springs, is that they cannot provide progressive rates of springs. Certain manufacturers tend to change the torsion bars to change the ride height, allowing for either heavier or lighter engines. Even though the ride height may be adjusted by turning the adjuster bolt on the torsion key stock, rotating this key too far can place the standard level of the stock piston too far. Towing cars with torsion bars is easier, too.

Adjusting the Trailer Torsion Bar

1. Choose between adjusting the bolts to either lift the car up or loosening them to lift the car down.

2. On the threads, there are lock nuts to be found.

3. You will need a socket and a bar that are a decent size and that will get the job done. The right size is very important or else it will not work.

4. On the front wheel arms, there are rubber bump stops that limit wheel travel.

5. From these, you can adjust the torsion bars as much as you want, but not too much or else it will be uncomfortable and may cause them to break. If you go too high with respect to the torsion bars, the reduction of your wheel travel goes downward.

Need Help?

It may be best to call a professional for this issue. Here at TalkLocal, we can help you find a professional near you. We’ll connect you to the right professional in just minutes, for free.

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