Renology Editorial Team
Maria Santos
Finishes Editor
Maria covers the surfaces that get touched daily — flooring and interior paint. Her angle is durability under real use: kids, pets, rentals, coastal humidity, dry valley heat. She tracks how warranty claims actually play out across hardwood, engineered, LVP, tile, and the finish lines on top of them.
Areas of Coverage
- Hardwood & engineered floors
- Tile installation
- Interior painting
- Color matching
- Material durability
Magazine articles by Maria
Renovation Order of Operations: What to Do First, Second, Third
Get the renovation sequence wrong, and you're guaranteed to go over budget. We break down the real home renovation order of operations: it's not about construction, it's about decisions.
7 ADU Build Mistakes That Cost San Francisco Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most San Francisco ADU projects go over budget by $75,000 or more. Learn the 7 costliest mistakes, from underestimating site work to choosing the wrong contractor, and how to avoid them.
7 Bathroom Remodel Mistakes That Cost San Diego Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most San Diego bathroom remodels go over budget by 20-35%. Learn the seven most common and costly mistakes, from ignoring coastal humidity to hiring the wrong contractor, and how to avoid them.
7 Kitchen Remodel Mistakes That Cost Los Angeles Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most LA kitchen remodels go over budget by 20-30%. Learn the seven costliest mistakes, from picking the wrong contractor to underestimating finish costs, and how to avoid them in 2026.
7 Outdoor Kitchen Mistakes That Cost Denver Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most Denver outdoor kitchen projects go over budget by 20-30%. Learn the seven most common mistakes, from choosing the wrong materials for Colorado's climate to hiring an unqualified contractor, and how to avoid them.
What 10-15% Contingency Actually Pays For (and When to Set Aside 20%)
A renovation contingency isn't a slush fund for upgrades, it's project insurance. Learn what the standard 10-15% actually covers and when a 20% fund is essential for your remodel.
7 Pool Installation Mistakes That Cost Portland Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most Portland pool installations go over budget by $25,000. We detail the 7 predictable mistakes, from ignoring Portland's clay soil to picking the wrong finishes for our climate.
7 Siding Replacement Mistakes That Cost Seattle Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Don't let your Seattle siding replacement go over budget. Learn the seven most common mistakes, from choosing the wrong materials for our wet climate to underestimating the cost of rot repair.
7 Driveway Installation Mistakes That Cost San Francisco Homeowners Thousands (2026)
A botched San Francisco driveway costs thousands to fix. Learn the seven most common installation mistakes, from ignoring SF's clay soil to choosing the wrong materials for the fog.
Energy Efficiency Rebates Worth Knowing About in 2026 (IRA + State Stacking)
A guide to maximizing your savings on energy efficient home upgrades by stacking federal IRA tax credits with state and local utility rebates in 2026.
7 Deck Build Mistakes That Cost San Diego Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most San Diego deck projects go thousands over budget. Avoid the 7 costliest mistakes, from choosing the wrong materials for coastal air to under-engineering footings for canyon lots.
7 Roof Replacement Mistakes That Cost Los Angeles Homeowners Thousands (2026)
Most Los Angeles roof replacements go over budget. We detail the seven costliest mistakes, from ignoring Title 24 cool roof mandates to choosing the wrong materials for Southern California's intense sun.
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