It was Wednesday and I was working the basement detail with my partner Frank. I?m Joe Friday, home-improvement cop. We're on our way to San Jose on a 10-40 to collar a support post -- a real challenge. "Open up! Home- improvement police! Caller says you're refinishing your basement and have support beams that are in the way. They're unsightly and need to be hidden. Report says you're considering painting them. Thinking wallpaper? Maybe wrapping them in carpet? Better think twice. That's amateur stuff. If you want to put a support post away permanently, pick up some plastic collars at the hardware store that provide a flat surface on all four sides for gluing and screwing materials that'll hide it and finish it off right. Want to hide a column? Collar it by the book and get the look. Those are the facts, sir. Have a nice day." And that's the On The House tip for today.