Best type of paint for atrium door?

I have just had an out-swinging exterior atrium door with an interior retracting screen installed leading to my deck. In nice weather, I plan to leave the door open for fresh air. The door came primed and I painted the outward facing side with an exterior latex paint. I have not painted the interior side yet. The top of the door is currently not painted, but is raw wood. If it happens to rain when the door is open, the door will get wet.
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Should I paint the interior side with an exterior grade paint? Is there a product that is better than paint to apply to the top of the doors so water won't get in and warp it?

DJL, Boston

A. For your purposes, I think it is best to paint the primed interior face of the door with two coats of a latex solid stain; it is an exterior finish but will give an interior feel to it, and will be weather-resistant.

For the top (and sides and bottom, for that matter), prime with an exterior latex primer where necessary and finish with an exterior latex paint. This should seal it sufficiently to resist absorption of moisture and subsequent swelling.

Q. I know you addressed how to deal with noisy next-door neighbors in a townhouse. My problem is my downstairs neighbors. I can hear them talking in the bedroom late at night. Usually it's after 3 in the morning. I have wall-to-wall carpeting. Is there something I can put under the carpet to absorb the sound? I don't like having to go sleep on the couch every night.

C.C., by e-mail

A. The best way to stop that sound transfer is to build a separate ceiling in the neighbor's unit. Since this is impractical, I suggest you buy a sound-absorbing pad that comes in 4- by 8-foot panels.

Remove the carpet, and put down the panels, with tight seams. Make sure they are tight against the wall or baseboard; if there is a quarter-round at the bottom of the baseboard, remove it. Tape all seams and caulk perimeter joints. Put the carpet back.

It might take some effort to find sound-absorbing board. A lumber store, if it does not carry it, can order it.

Or, buy a fiberboard panel made by Homasote, which calls it carpet cushion. It is designed as a carpet pad, or cushion, but should also help reduce sound transfer.

Q. What is the deal with radiator covers and energy efficiency? I hear mixed reports as to whether they make the heating system more or less efficient. Based on what I hear, I am inclined to believe that they make the system less efficient, especially if they are wood rather than metal. That's unfortunate, because I am hoping to cover many of the radiators in my house with wood covers in order to keep them from burning little fingers. Is there anything you can do to help make radiator covers more efficient (or at least less inefficient)? I have heard about putting foil in back of the radiators but would like to hear if there is any company that makes these sorts of reflectors in a less ad-hoc way than using rolls of aluminum foil.

source: boston.com