Wood that’s oh, so nice

If you’re looking for a way to make your spring spruce-up add value to your home, wood is a great option. Below, Mark and Theresa Clement, home improvement pros and spokespersons for Wood, Naturally, offer simple, do-it-yourself tips for incorporating wood into your home projects:

Prepping decks for spring entertaining

After you’ve carefully cleaned the deck to remove dirt and debris, choose a finish. Both sealers and stains are designed to seal out elements. Clear sealers contain no pigment, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to show through. Stains may contain a little pigment (labeled as “tone” or “transparent”), be semi-transparent or come in solid colors. Avoid paint, which can form a film on top of the wood and bubble or flake.

Add crown molding to a room

Crown molding imparts an upscale, elegant air to any room — and you only need basic DIY tools to install it. When choosing your molding, remember to keep a consistent scale from floor to ceiling. You may be tempted to install a wide, impressive crown molding and skimp on the base or casings, but molding sizes need to be balanced throughout the room.

Install wainscoting

Wainscoting has long been a hallmark of fine construction. Wood paneling is applied to a lower section of wall — typically in dining rooms, but also in kitchens, hallways and even bedrooms. If you crave old-world elegance in your modern home, wainscoting is an easy, cost-effective way to achieve that look.

To learn more about building and designing with wood, visit www.woodnaturally.com.

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.