Follow these tips to make sure your varnish stands the test of time.

• To prepare new bare wooden flooring, leave it to acclimatise in the room where it’ll be laid (to avoid shrinking and swelling) for a couple of weeks. Lightly sand it along the grain, taking care not to damage or scratch the surface.
• Brush and vacuum up the sanding dust, then remove any dirt and grease with methylated spirits or cellulose thinners, using a lint-free cloth.
• For best results, use a good quality varnish roller or brush, and stir the varnish thoroughly before and during use. Clear the room and start varnishing in the corner furthest from the door, so you can varnish your way out. Work quickly, coating three to four boards at a time to avoid overlaps. Finish in the direction of the grain.
• Lightly sand the first coat of varnish (when completely dry) to remove any debris and raised grain. Clean off the sanding dust before applying further coats.
• When you’ve finished varnishing, wait before using the room and putting the furniture back in to ensure the varnish has hardened fully. The drying and hardening times will vary from product to product (water-based varnishes dry most quickly), so consult the manufacturer’s instructions. For more hints and tips, visit www.sadolin.co.uk

DIY news bulletin

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to decorate your home, check out the Paint Mate Pro roller, currently reduced to £24.99. Unusually, you pour the paint into the roller (it can hold up to 1ltr), rather than rolling it in the paint, so you don’t need a paint tray and you don’t have a problem with drips.

The paint takes a while to come through once you’ve filled up the roller, and you need to press quite hard when using it, but it’s a lot less messy than a conventional roller, especially if you’re using runny paint.

The roller comes with lots of accessories, including a measuring jug to fill it up, an extension pole to reach up high, and paint pads for the fiddly bits. The Paint Mate Pro is available from www.jmldirect.com

Robbie Williams has topped a poll of celebrities who people would most like to help out in an emergency this winter.

David Beckham followed closely behind, with X Factor judge and Take That frontman Gary Barlow coming third.

Adrian Chiles, Eamonn Holmes and Piers Morgan came bottom of the poll, but Carol Vorderman, Kirstie Allsopp and Alan Sugar fared better. The survey, of 3,000 people, was carried out by duct-tape specialist Duck Tape.

Meanwhile, some 35% said they do nothing to prepare their home or car for winter. This is despite the fact that a fifth of people have had to claim on their insurance in previous winters for problems with their home or car.

Two-thirds of those surveyed think the unpredictability of British weather is why they tend to suffer more mishaps during winter.

The average homeowner will have to contend with a problem with their home’s boiler, a garden fence blowing down and two instances of leaky roofs or windows. You have been warned!

Ask the expert…

Q: I’ve bought a house that had a new front door fitted while I was buying it, but I don’t like the panels of patterned glass in it and I obviously don’t want to replace the door because it’s new. What can I do about it, apart from replacing the glass?

A: The easiest option is to buy self-adhesive frosted film to cover up the glass. You can get plain and patterned versions, but you’ll probably need plain so you can’t see any of the patterned glass underneath. Get a long length (including extra in case you make a mistake) and cut it up to fit the panels. If necessary, stick the film on both sides of the glass – rain should just run off it. The film is usually only suitable for flat glass, so if yours is textured, try frosting spray, although this can be tricky to apply evenly.

Seasonal task…

Fill the gaps between white-painted floorboards with flexible filler, especially if they’re in the kitchen or bathroom. This stops water and food falling between them and is a good thing to do at this time of year because it stops draughts coming up through the gaps.