To enhance and protect the natural beauty of wood, nothing compares with a clear finish. Clear finishes bring out texture and natural grain while sealing the wood against stains, moisture and dirt.

My old cottage has bead board in the upstairs bedrooms that has been varnished. It looks very nice, but some of the varnish has bubbled. How can I get rid of that bubbling? A. First, check to see if ...

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It is safest to use an oil-based polyurethane varnish on an old finish; the new water-based polyurethanes may not be compatible with old oil-based finishes. And, if the old finish is shellac, new ...

Perhaps you live in an historic house with perfectly intact, never-painted wood. You can just leave it be, or gently clean it with a rag dipped into water with a squirt of Ivory liquid soap. How to ...

Dear James: I recently bought an older house. It has beautiful cherry woodwork that needs to be refinished. I have heard about a French-polish finish. Is this a good finish to use and how do I do it? ...

Q: We just stripped six layers of paint off the front door of our 1820s house. I think the door is made of chestnut. We don’t want to repaint it, and we don’t like polyurethane. What’s the best ...