Home Improvement Tips & Project Advice

Helpful home improvement tips, painting advice, prep guides, and project ideas from Mike Ross Painting for Auburn-area homeowners.

September 30, 2026 • 10 min read

Kitchen Cabinet Painting Before and After: What to Expect

A professional cabinet paint job is one of the more dramatic transformations you can make in a…
September 16, 2026 • 8 min read

House Painting Costs in Grass Valley CA: 2026 Local Guide

Grass Valley has some of the most architecturally interesting homes in the foothills, and the painting work…
August 31, 2026 • 9 min read

Cabinet Painting vs. Refinishing vs. Replacing: Worth It?

When your kitchen feels outdated, the default answer is usually replacement. But for most homeowners with structurally…
August 14, 2026 • 10 min read

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding

You can skip sanding on cabinets in some situations. But you can’t skip adhesion prep, and most…
July 31, 2026 • 10 min read

Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in 2026: What to Expect

Cabinet painting quotes vary a lot, and the cheapest ones almost always have a catch. Here’s what…
July 15, 2026 • 10 min read

Spray vs. Brush: The Best Way to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Spray finishing gives you a smoother result on cabinets, but it’s not always the right call in…
June 27, 2026 • 9 min read

Cost to Pressure Wash a House in 2026: Auburn CA Guide

Pressure washing a house before painting isn’t optional, it’s what gives the new coat something to hold…
June 17, 2026 • 6 min read

House Painters in Penryn CA: Local Painting Services

Penryn is a small, quiet community where most homes have wood siding and a lot of fence…
June 12, 2026 • 11 min read

Best Deck Stain Colors for California Foothill Homes

Color selection for deck stain in the Auburn foothills is more constrained than most people expect. The…
June 10, 2026 • 10 min read

What Is Texture Painting? A Homeowner’s Guide

Texture painting covers a wider range of finishes than most people realize, from spray-applied orange peel to…
June 5, 2026 • 10 min read

Best Paint for a Black Front Door: What Actually Works

A black front door is one of the highest-impact things you can do to a home’s exterior….
June 3, 2026 • 9 min read

How to Stain a Fence: What Homeowners Get Wrong

Fence staining looks similar to deck staining but it’s harder in practice. The surface is vertical, both…
May 29, 2026 • 6 min read

House Painters in Loomis CA: What Homeowners Need to Know

Loomis properties tend to have more going on than a standard suburban job, wood siding, fencing, outbuildings,…
May 27, 2026 • 10 min read

Chalk Paint on Furniture: Is It Worth the Hype?

Chalk paint is everywhere on social media and it does look great. But it scratches and wears…
May 22, 2026 • 9 min read

How to Paint Outdoor Furniture That Actually Lasts

Outdoor furniture finishes fail when people treat them like indoor projects. The primer, the paint, and the…
May 20, 2026 • 7 min read

House Painters in Newcastle CA: Local Painting Services

Newcastle is a small community but the painting work here has its own character, older wood siding…
May 15, 2026 • 8 min read

How Long Does Deck Stain Take to Dry?

Dry to the touch and ready for use are two very different things with deck stain. Rushing…
May 13, 2026 • 11 min read

Bathroom Accent Wall Ideas That Actually Work

A bathroom accent wall is one of the easier ways to transform a space, but bathrooms are…