The surface of hardwood plywood is intended to be seen, not to be covered with paint. It should be sealed with some type of finish, however, to protect the surface from damage. A clear waterborne polyurethane is the best choice if you want to maintain the exact color of the wood. A clear oil-based polyurethane will usually darken the surface a bit, creating a tone that many people associate with "natural" wood. For a more dramatic color adjustment, use a tinted stain. If you are uncertain about which finish to use, buy small containers of different products and apply them to scrap pieces of the plywood you are using. Let the test finishes dry before making your choice. If you are using a stain, always test the product on scrap wood before applying it to the finished surface.

Electrical Safety: Shutting Off the Power

Never, ever, begin working on an electrical switch, receptacle or fixture until the power has been shut off at the service panel. The service panel contains circuit breakers or, in older homes, fuses that control the flow of electricity to different circuits throughout the house. You can cut the electricity to a circuit by switching the breaker to OFF or by removing the fuse.

Do not assume that all of the electricity to a room is controlled by one circuit. Always verify that the power is off at each device you are working on by using a neon tester or other type of voltage tester. With a neon tester, push the probes into the slots of a receptacle. If the tester light comes on, the circuit is still hot. To test a switch or light fixture, touch one probe to a hot wire or terminal and the other to a neutral wire or terminal, the grounding conductor, or a grounded metal box.

Always test the tester on a live circuit before use to confirm that it is functioning properly. Hold the probes by their insulated handles, not by the metal ends. And if all of this strikes you as too scary, have an experienced do-it-yourselfer show you how to do it or leave the work to someone else.

Quick Color Tip

You can also alter the color by selecting the type of plywood that best matches the color and tone you are after. Maple veneer tends to be on the light side, while cherry is much darker.