Q: We recently bought a resale home. When we moved in, the front door took a beating. We were clumsy movers, and we dented the door in several places. The door is metal and has been faded by the sun.

The dent sat there like a bruise, right at eye level on the hallway door. I noticed it while juggling keys and shopping, the little crater catching the afternoon light as if it wanted to be found. The ...