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A Community Painting and Renovation Project in Berkeley: Part 2

 A Community Painting and Renovation Project in Berkeley: Part 2

Some projects stay with you long after the last ladder is packed up. Donating our services for this Project Color Painting for Charity Giveaway in Berkeley was definitely one of them.

The project began when Rebuilding Together East Bay Network (RTEBN) stepped in to help a senior homeowner and her veteran husband whose home had been left stripped to the studs after a contractor disappeared, taking their savings with him. What followed was a multi-year effort led by RTEBN and supported by an incredible group of partners, all committed to seeing the home fully restored.

Phase 1: Interior Progress

Our involvement started with interior painting, helping move the home from a raw, unfinished state toward a livable space again. This phase was about restoring momentum and contributing to the larger rebuild already underway.

Take a look here for the article outlining more specific details about the Phase 1 work.

Phase 2: Finishing the Exterior

The final phase brought its own challenges. Our team completed the exterior repaint following extensive preparation, all within a tight five-day window. At the same time, carpenters were replacing rotted wood and solar panels were being installed late in the schedule.

With multiple trades working simultaneously, careful coordination and planning were essential. Thanks to strong communication and flexibility across the board, the project crossed the finish line right on time.

 A Community Painting and Renovation Project in Berkeley: Part 2

Building Skills Along the Way with “Girls Garage”

This project also included a meaningful partnership with Girls Garage, a nonprofit that teaches building skills to girls and young women. Through their Big Skills Workforce Development Program, students were on-site gaining hands-on experience while contributing to a real community rebuild.

It was a powerful reminder that projects like this don’t just restore homes - they help create pathways for the next generation of builders and tradespeople. How awesome is that?

The Role of Rebuilding Together East Bay Network

Projects like this are possible because of organizations like RTEBN, who work year-round to preserve affordable housing, improve safety and accessibility, and bring together nonprofits, volunteers, and local businesses across the East Bay. Their commitment to staying with a project from crisis to completion is what turns difficult situations into lasting change. It’s always a pleasure to partner with them and donate our services!

A Community Celebration

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony (video above!), the Mayor of Oakland and those in attendance recognized the collective effort behind the project; a moment that reflected just how many people played a role in bringing the home back to life.

We’re also grateful to Sherwin-Williams for once again donating the paint products needed to support this Project Color initiative.

Looking Ahead

This project is a strong example of what Project Color is all about: showing up, working together, and seeing things through. We’re thankful for the opportunity to partner with Rebuilding Together East Bay Network once again, and we’re already looking forward to the next collaboration!

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Customer Reviews

“Just had MB Jessee paint the interior of our house and they did a wonderful job. They tackled some crazy wallpaper as well as painted some very high ceilings and walls. The whole process was quick and they did a great job! We are very pleased. I was also very impressed by the crew. They were very personable, kind and actually took pride in the work they were doing. In one of our conversations with the lead Ricardo, he actually told me he was very proud of how the rooms had turned out. I agree sir! It turned out great and it's not often you hear someone thinking of your home like they would theirs, and putting that level of work and quality into it. That made a huge difference in how I viewed this company. Ricardo, you were fantastic and thank you for the great job, we will be using you again.”

— Jeff M.
Danville, CA

“MB Jessee just finished our exterior and we couldn't be happier with our experience. The foreman (Pedro) and lead painter (Ricardo) were incredible to work with: they communicated scheduling clearly, Ricardo was a joy to be around every day, the showed up early every day, were incredibly tidy and did great paint work. The final walk through experience was incredible. Pedro pointed out items I missed demonstrating a clear desire to complete another quality project. I highly recommend them. As others have noted they definitely aren't the cheapest but you quickly realize that you're getting what you pay for. The 3 year guarantee is also a nice touch since there are likely touch up items that will show up after the job is done.”

— Joshua Jansen

“Today I received a beautiful bouquet from your company. It was totally unexpected and very much appreciated--a lovely surprise. Also today, your crew finished my job. I am so pleased with all their fine work. Richard is absolutely amazing and a total delight to work with. He was also extremely helpful during the paint color process. The interior work in my home far exceeded my expectations. A big thank you to you and the crew for an outstanding job. Thank you, thank you for a terrific job!”

— Barbara
Piedmont

“Many thanks to Rigoberto and Damon and the extraordinary team who transformed my castle in the skies.They are magicians. I appreciate their work very much.”

— Kathleen A
San Francisco

“It was a great experience working with MB Jessee. The crew was careful and thorough as they painted the house, sealed stucco cracks, repaired dry-rotted wood, stained the deck, etc. Robert, Gersson, Jose, and all of the people involved in the process from the estimate to the job completion were friendly and professional.”

— Mike C.
Livermore, CA

“I want to express my thanks for a job well done. The rooms look great and there is no problem with any marks on the all the trim, floor, carpet, etc. The paint job is lovely. I also want to express my thanks for the level of professionalism the foreman showed in running the job. He was very attentive to any changes I needed to make, was extremely careful in getting the faux paint color and effect correct. Thanks so much for a job well done.”

— Suzan D’Arcy

“I just wanted to send you an email to say that John did such a great job over here today. He is truly a hard worker. He has the perfect balance of friendliness, honesty, and professionalism. I trust him. He takes the time to do the job to the best of his ability and that is what sets him (and your company) apart from the competition. He didn't make me feel rushed. He really made me feel like our job was the most important thing in the world. Thanks again!”

— Jo
Oakland

“The kitchen looks NEW! You guys are amazing.”

“Thank you for the support you have given the Women's Cancer Resource Center over the past year!”

— Margo - Director Women's Cancer Resource Center

“M.B. Jessee painted the exterior of my Spanish house over 9 years ago, and they did such an incredible job that they are still getting referrals from me today. The paint is holding up perfectly -- there is absolutely no peeling chipping or any other deterioration. I still remember that my final walk-through list consisted of items written on one side of a 3x5 index card (and I'm REAL picky about my house!) However, when Matt and I did that walk-through over HALF the items were no longer an issue, as his team had noticed them first and they had already been resolved.”

— JoAnn Newcomb

“I loved working with M.B. Jessee from start to finish on a relatively small paint job that grew a bit. I felt in very good hands from the moment Matt Jessee came out to give me the estimate and talk about my job. He was very easy to talk to and he handled my changes very well. Then the actual work done by Rigoberto and Mario was impeccable. They were neat and meticulous and the paint job looks beautiful. I could not have asked for more and when I did, they accommodated me 100%. I will not hesitate to call M.B. Jessee again and to refer them to friends.”

— Nancy Kurkjian

“Very easy to work with, they did an outstanding job with our project of re-painting our painting our kitchen cabinets. Given the scope of the job and that our kitchen is roughly half of our upstairs living area they did a fantastic job of minimizing the mess. Workmanship was top notch, would definitely recommend.”

— Vince Scola