Home Improvement Tips & Project Advice

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

May 1, 20269 min read

Can You Paint Aluminum Siding? Yes, Here’s How It’s Done

Aluminum siding can be painted successfully, but it has one specific obstacle that trips up most DIY…
April 28, 20269 min read

Can You Paint Vinyl Siding? What You Need to Know

Yes, you can paint vinyl siding. But there’s one rule you can’t break, and most homeowners who…
April 27, 20267 min read

House Painters in Lincoln CA: What to Know Before You Hire

Lincoln has its own character when it comes to painting work, newer communities, HOA approval requirements, and…
April 21, 202611 min read

Cedar Deck Stain: Best Products and How to Apply

Cedar is one of the best decking materials you can have, but it’s also one of the…
April 16, 202612 min read

How to Stain a Deck: Complete Guide for Homeowners

The prep work is what determines whether a deck stain job lasts three years or falls apart…
April 14, 20268 min read

House Painting Costs in Auburn CA: 2026 Local Guide

What does it actually cost to paint a house in Auburn? The honest answer is that it…
April 9, 20269 min read

How to Pressure Wash a House Before Painting

Skipping the pressure wash before painting is one of the most common reasons exterior paint jobs fail…
April 7, 202611 min read

Fascia and Soffit Painting: What It Is and Why It Matters

Most homeowners don’t think about fascia and soffit until there’s a problem. By then, it’s usually rot….
April 2, 202610 min read

How to Remove a Wallpaper Border Without Ruining the Wall

Wallpaper borders are a different job than full wallpaper removal, and the approach changes depending on what’s…
March 31, 202611 min read

How to Strip and Re-Stain a Deck: When Starting Over Is the Right Move

When deck stain starts peeling or flaking, recoating over it won’t hold. Sometimes you have to go…
March 26, 202610 min read

How to Remove Wallpaper Without Destroying Your Walls

Removing wallpaper without wrecking the drywall underneath is mostly about patience and technique. Rushing it is how…
March 24, 202610 min read

5 Signs It’s Time to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior

Most homeowners wait too long to repaint. By the time paint is visibly peeling, the damage is…
March 22, 20266 min read

How to Remove Mold From Wallpaper Before Painting

Mold on wallpaper almost always means the wallpaper needs to come down before painting. Never paint over…
March 22, 20266 min read

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets: A Step-by-Step Guide

The best paint for kitchen cabinets is a waterborne alkyd. Benjamin Moore Advance and Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane…
March 22, 20267 min read

How to Paint a Garage Door (Without It Looking Painted)

Painting a garage door without it looking painted comes down to prep and technique. Clean, degrease, scuff…
March 22, 20266 min read

How to Degrease Kitchen Cabinets for Painting (The Right Way)

Degreasing is the step that determines whether a cabinet paint job holds for a decade or fails…
March 22, 20265 min read

Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets (What Pros Actually Use)

The best paint for kitchen cabinets is a waterborne alkyd. Benjamin Moore Advance and Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane…