Q. The home I’m moving into has kitchen cabinets in ugly brown laminate. Can I paint over them? If so, what’s best? A. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done. If you consider the paint job a temporary solution, you’ll probably be more satisfied with the results. The key is preparation. Remove the doors from their frames and remove all hardware, including hinges. To help paint adhere to the surface, clean the doors and sand them lightly. Next apply an oil-base primer; check the label for drying time. The latex or oil-base finish coat will adhere best if applied shortly after the primer is dry. To help protect the paint, consider topping it with two coats of clear polyurethane. Adding wood or composite moldings to your cabinet doors will further change their look. These are available in many sizes and shapes at home centers and lumberyards. You can have moldings miter-cut to your specifications or do it yourself using a miter box and handsaw. Once they are cut to size, paint the moldings, following the instructions above. When they are dry, use wood glue to adhere them to the door fronts, then secure them from the back of the doors with small screws.

Q. Our home’s windows need replacing. I want wood frames, but my husband doesn’t want the maintenance. What are our options? A. Leaders in the window industry understand your dilemma and have a ready solution: vinyl-clad wood windows. From the inside of your house, these look like any other wood window, which can be painted or stained as you choose. But the parts exposed to weather are covered with tough, no-maintenance vinyl. Be sure to look for cost-effective, energy-efficient replacement windows.

Q. Is replacing a bathroom countertop a DIY project? A. You may be happier with the results if you hire a pro. Laminate comes in rolls of approximately 6x14 feet, enough for four typical bathroom vanities. Professional installation of a new laminate countertop can cost as little as $17 per square feet—and you wind up with a completely new surface, not a patchwork job. If you still want to tackle the job, consider purchasing a preformed laminate countertop from a home center.

Q. Can I remove the texture on a blown-texture ceiling? A. Before attempting to remove the texture, find out if the ceiling contains asbestos. You can find a qualified expert in the Yellow Pages under “Asbestos Removal.” If the ceiling contains asbestos, it should be removed by a firm that specializes in the procedure. Homes built since the 1970s are more likely to have ceiling texture made of painted cellulose. You can remove the material, but it is a dusty, messy job. So arm yourself with a dust mask, and lay down disposable coverings—dampened cellulose will dry and stick to anything. Working in one small area at a time, use a hand-pump sprayer or a roller to wet down the ceiling with warm water. Using a stiff, wide putty knife, carefully scrape the dampened texture off the ceiling. If you take your time and avoid gouging the surface, you’ll spend less time spackling. When you have finished the scraping and touchups, sand the ceiling smooth. Then apply primer and top coats.