Blog

  • Home >
  • Blog >
  • A Community Painting and Renovation Project in Berkeley: Part 2

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!

Request an Estimate

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area

Files must be an image (.jpg or .png). Limit 2 images.

Why People Hire Us

Fully Licensed and Insured

Fully Licensed and Insured

Clear Communication

Clear Communication

Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

Experienced Oversight and Job Leadership

Experienced Oversight and Job Leadership

Our Credentials

BBB American Society of Interior Designers ASID Leadsafe Certified Firm EPA NARI Member Nolan Summit Services Inc

Customer Reviews

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

“My entire experience with MB Jesse was very professional. The crew were very friendly and super accommodating of my ridiculous schedule and geriatric pets in the house. The finished product, which was pretty much my entire house, far exceeds my expectations. Would definitely work with them again!”

— Heather Jordan

“In all the years I've worked with MB Jessee, I'm always so impressed by your crews. They are so respectful of everything--you never even know they're there! Except that the paint looks amazing when they're gone. We've had one showing of our home and already have an offer. I'm sure it is because the paint looks so beautiful.”

— Erin T.
Pleasant Hill

“The completed 'Client Satisfaction Survey' we sent in only modestly reflects our total satisfaction with the work. As a retired small business owner, I compliment you on setting 'best practices' that are consistently followed. Everything described in your marketing materials was a reality! The crew is a super bowl team and our neighbors commented on how quiet they were. We are very happy to be a client of MB Jessee.”

— Richard
Orinda

“Just wanted to let you know that the crew was great to have around the house for the past two weeks. All three of them were professional, courteous, and attentive to my thoughts/concerns and were extremely knowledgeable. They paid great attention to the detail and it shows.”

— Mark & Roberta Gross

“In September, MBJessee finished painting two sides of our 3-story condominium building (six owners). We were impressed by the professionalism of the company and every one of its workers, Matt Jessee couldn't have been more helpful in planning the project. His painters were well-trained, easy to communicate with and eager to please. In addition to painting the stucco, they made extensive repairs on windows and frames, which will save us considerable money in the future. They finished earlier than anticipated, with as many as five men working on the job, and the scaffolding came down the next day. All of us were delighted with the results. Now my husband and I are looking forward to having MB Jessee paint our own apartment later this month. Matt and Gustavo (who will be our crew leader again) have explained how they will work to make the painting proceed smoothly while we're living here, and they have been endlessly patient with our protracted decision-making process. If you look at their website, you'll learn that MB Jessee is an exemplary company that takes good care of its workers as well as its customers, and contributes public service projects to the community. All in all, we can't recommend MB Jessee highly enough.”

— Jayne W.
San Francisco, CA

“Charles finished yesterday and did a fantastic job. We really enjoyed meeting Charles and having him in our home. He is a great guy in addition to his attention to detail in his work, the protection of our floors, walls and furnishings, and his overall interaction with us both. I would be pleased to recommend him to any of my clients.”

— Ken Morrison
Oakland

“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

“Richard and crew have been great, for sure. As much as I look forward to having the job done and my house back in order, I really enjoyed having them around. You should feel really good about how they represent your company.”

— Jessica Dodson

“Julie,Just to let you know I am very appreciative of your crew catching the plumbing/mold problem. It was very astute of them. I wanted to let you know that again your crew has done excellent work here, please pass this along to Mr. Jessee. There are some bumps in the road here, but the painting and your crew has not been one of them. Their work is the only thing going right currently, and this crew is very nice and respectful. It is much appreciated. Thank you again.”

— Beth
Oakland

“The people at M.B. Jessee are great – from the painters to the office staff to Matt. Talk about leadership from the top.”

— Kevin Ames, Mark Becker Homes

“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 walkthrough 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 J.
Oakland, CA