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Commercial Painting in Downtown Oakland: Preserving a Local Landmark

 Commercial Painting in Downtown Oakland: Preserving a Local Landmark

Follow San Pablo Ave out of the center of Oakland and you’ll soon come across a little slice of history. Ornate, and almost quaint, it stands in stark contrast to its towering modern neighbors.

We’re talking about the historic Maclise Drugstore Building (now the Haley Law Offices). Built in the 1880s, this beautiful flatiron was quite the landmark; an impressive piece of architecture in the growing Bay Area.

Given its history, local significance, and exquisite detailing, we were honored to be asked to paint it.

Picking the Right High-Performance Exterior Coating

 Commercial Painting in Downtown Oakland: Preserving a Local Landmark
 Commercial Painting in Downtown Oakland: Preserving a Local Landmark
 Commercial Painting in Downtown Oakland: Preserving a Local Landmark

Every exterior commercial painting project involves a few key elements:

  • Clear, thorough proposal

  • Careful communication

  • Scheduling/coordination

  • Obtaining any necessary permits

  • Color selection

  • Product selection

  • Surface preparation/repairs

  • Application

  • Final walkthrough to ensure the work meets and exceeds client expectations

For the color selection, we had a unique directive that added a whole new layer to the project. Our client asked us to bring the original palette back to life (from the 1880s), fully restoring the way it would’ve looked when new.

Thankfully, paint products have come a long, long way since the 19th century. After dialing in the colors, we chose an elastomeric coating to give it the best protection and style it’s ever had.

Take a Closer Look

What Is An Elastomeric Coating?

An elastomeric coating is an ultra-durable, high-build coating that creates a flexible, watertight covering after it cures. It’s especially ideal for stucco or masonry surfaces, like this particular building.

Here are a few other benefits that made it the right choice for the job:

  • Durable and long-lasting

  • Flexible, meaning that it won’t crack as the building shifts or settles over time

  • Water-resistant

  • Extremely thick

Elastomerics need to be applied properly, and with careful consideration of the existing paint and surface conditions. Our team has extensive experience, and we know that this product (and application) will stand the test of time.

Let’s Discuss Your Bay Area Commercial Painting Project

If you have any additional questions, or would like to discuss your own painting and maintenance approach in Oakland and the Bay Area, we’re ready to help. You can explore our commercial painting services here, or contact us directly.

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Why People Hire Us

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One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

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Our Credentials

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Customer Reviews

“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

“The entire MB Jessee team is courteous, efficient and professional. From scheduling and estimating to the crew managers and crew, they all did an excellent job on a small (but complicated) two room project in my house. I'm already thinking about getting them scheduled for the next project in the spring.”

— Cari Cheney

“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

“High quality work from a pleasant and qualified staff. Thank you!”

— Paul Markovich

“I highly recommend MB Jesse Painting to anyone looking for a professional team that does an impressive job. They are on time, efficient and clean up well each and every day they are on site. They pay attention to detail and listen to the needs of their clients. In addition, they give back to the community. A Five Star team all the way around.”

— Erin Troy

“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

“The painters at MB Jesse are top notch! Cesar's team was super friendly and helpful. They were very polite and accommodating. Their expertise in everything painting related was evident in their attention to detail and efficiency painting tricky spaces. The apartment looks brand new!”

— Adam Swisher

“Matt, Julie & Ricardo, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the three of you for the wonderful job you did in hosting the SFBA NARI Chapter Meeting on Wednesday evening. Everything was perfect from beginning to end. Members and guests alike walked away with a truly positive experience. The "painter for a day" and the cookies in the paint cans were an absolute brilliant touch and received rave reviews. What a wonderful way to do such positive marketing. Thanks again for a truly memorable experience for our members and guests. You are valued as a NARI member.”

— Judy Tufo, SFBA NARI Executive Director

“Edy and crew are hard at work. They are doing a great job. Very professional outfit you have. Your crew is a delight. You may use me for a reference!”

— Heidi B
Walnut Creek

“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

“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