When painting an existing door, remove lockset hardware. Cover hinges with painters tape. Patch any dents or scratches. If you are painting a metal door, use auto-body filler. Wood and composite doors can be filled with wood putty. Lightly sand surface and all edges with 120 grit sandpaper to dull the original glossy finish. Clean off all dust with a lint-free cloth.

Using a mirror, inspect the bottom edge of the door to see if it has been painted or sealed. If it has not, remove door from its hinges by tapping out the hinge pins. Seal bottom of the door and re-install. All edges of the door should be sealed, as this will stop doors from absorbing moisture and swelling.

To paint a 6-panel door, paint one side at a time in the following order : First paint the molded edge of the recessed panels using your 1 inch brush , then paint the panels themselves using the 3 inch brush. Use a clean rag to wipe off any excess paint that has dripped onto the vertical stiles and horizontal rails. Using your 3 inch brush, paint the center stile next, but only the areas between the panels. Then paint the rails, feathering the edges where you meet a previously painted surface. To avoid lap marks, always paint from the dry surface to the wet paint. Allow to dry and apply second coat if needed. Lightly sand between coats and wipe off any residue.

To paint a flush door, remove hardware, mask hinges and seal edges as previously discussed. Lightly sand and wipe off any residue. Using a smooth-surface roller, apply the paint to the door, working from the top down. Use the roller as much as possible, as mixing a brush with a roller can leave leave slightly different finishes. Allow to dry and apply second coat if needed. Lightly sand between coats and wipe of any residue.

Once doors have been allowed to completely dry (usually 4-6 hours), Re-install hardware and remove all painters tape.

Repairing a section of a finished wood floor that is interlocked with tongue and groove joints is a job that requires patience and some skill. There are a few techniques to remember if you want to get a professional looking repair. If several boards are damaged, take the time to weave in new boards, as opposed to cutting a straight line and making the patch. Random joints are much more appealing than straight line joints.

New tongue and groove flooring can be expensive , and it may not match the old flooring in appearance. New flooring strips also have to be sanded and stained to match the existing floor. A solution to this can be found in your own home. Most homes with wood flooring also have it installed in all the closets. If your patch is small enough, there should be ample flooring in the closets to do your repair, and the finish and style of the flooring will match your existing. You can patch the closet flooring in with any material and not worry about a perfect match.

STEPS

1) Using a circular saw, set the depth slightly deeper than the thickness of your floorboards, and make two cuts through center of the board. Cut as far as possible to the next board without piercing adjacent flooring. Pry out cut piece with a chisel. Pry out remaining section of board, making sure not to damage adjacent boards.

2) Pull out all old nails in subfloor. Use a nail set to sink in any nails in existing floor, or nails that are difficult to remove. Cut out any rosin paper that is on the subfloor.

3) Cut the replacement boards to fit. If you are replacing more than one board, make sure joints are offset at least 2 inches. Test-fit the replacement boards. If you are replacing more than one board, apply construction adhesive to the bottom face and in the groove of the board and slip the groove of each new piece into the tongue on the adjacent board and tap into place. Drill pilot holes and angle-nail each piece into place using the spiral nails, every 12 inches before installing the next piece.

4) To install the last board, chisel off the lower lip of the groove. Also remove the tongue on the end of the board if needed. Apply adhesive to the subfloor, tongue and half-groove of replacement piece, then tap into place using, installing tongue side first. Use a block of wood to protect the flooring surface as you tap. Drill pilot holes every 12 inches along the groove side of board and install spiral nails, Fill nail hole with color putty to match

Colorwashing

To colorwash with a glaze, dilute the glaze 75 percent with a solvent and apply with a brush. Blend it out with a dry paint brush or rag, wiping off the glaze until you achieve the effect you like. Additional coats may be applied, just make sure previous coats have had sufficient time to dry.

To colorwash with a wash, mix 9 parts water with 1 part paint. Apply paint to the wall with a roller quickly and haphazardly. Let the wash dry and apply 2 or 3 more coats. For your final coat, apply a layer of wash, diluted 4 parts water to 1 part paint. The, using a damp sponge or brush, blur the edges to blend the wash with the background color.

Sponging

Sponging is similar to colorwashing, except it involves applying your wash with a large, damp sponge. Use a sea-sponge with medium size pores.
Starting with a damp sponge, (moistened with water if using a wash, solvent if using a glaze), dab the wall gently and rotate the sponge. Use smaller sponges for inside corners and hard to reach areas.
For areas that cannot be reached with a sponge, use an artist brush to mimic the sponge effect. Let dry and repeat as needed.

Ragging On

Ragging on is similar to sponging, except you use a cotton rag. This creates more of an inconsistent finish. This works best with colors that are similar to your base coat.

Ragging Off

Ragging off involves covering the entire base coat with your wash or glaze, the removing paint as needed with a wet rag. You create the look. You must work fast with this method. An Alkyd Glaze is the best choice for this method.

Dragging

Dragging is another removal technique that creates more of a uniform striped effect.Coat the entire wall with your wash or glaze, then drag a brush or rag across the surface to create lines. Once again you must work fast with this method.