Green Painting Company

You understand the inherent environmental risks that a home makeover poses today, and so does MB Jessee.

Here are 6 questions we get asked when talking about green painting and our painting processes:

  1. What is green painting? Green painting is an area of expertise within the house or business painting industry that employs eco-friendly paints, other materials, and practices that pose very little negative impact on the environment. Green painting has nothing to do with the color, and has everything to do with the paint that contains little or none of the harmful chemicals found in conventional paints, stains, and wood finishing coats such as enamels and varnishes. It also encompasses eco-friendly painting business practices, such as the most environmentally friendly ways to dispose of materials, use of an eco-friendly fleet of vehicles, encouragement of group commuting, donation of leftover paint to charity, recycling in the office, and the practice of always recommending the least polluting paint alternative without sacrificing quality.
  2. What’s wrong with traditional paint? Traditional paints and finishes release low-level toxic emissions into the air for years after their application. These toxins come from various solvents called Volatile Organic Compounds, which until not very long ago were vital to create quality paint. VOCs release gases that can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and eye, throat, and lung irritation, during and after painting.
  3. What are the benefits of using eco-friendly paints? The benefits are numerous; among the most important are:
    • Coating flexibility
    • Better gloss retention
    • Better face resistance
    • Reduced health risks
    • Little or no VOCs
    • Less pollution
    • Low odor
    • Easier clean-up
    • Safer environment
    • Reduced waste
    • Improved durability
  4. What exactly are VOCs? When you paint a wall or other surface, the paint takes a few hours to dry. As the paint dries, and for many years afterwards, it releases gases from its liquid form. These harmful gases emitted by the paint as it dries are called VOCs. Among the VOCs we can name: benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and formaldehyde. Their function is to improve the paint’s capacity to spread, and to act as biocides and fungicides. However, in rooms without proper ventilation, these gases can harm human lungs and other organs over time. For example, the exposure to formaldehyde can cause eye watering and burning sensations in eyes, nose, and throat. It can also produce chest tightness and panting, and has been classified by EPA as a possible carcinogen. Today, the highest quality paints dry while releasing very low amounts of VOCs, ensuring people’s safety and comfort.
  5. Are eco-friendly paints more expensive? No, they aren’t. Due to the ever-increasing demand for healthier painting alternatives, the prices have now equaled to those of traditional paints.
  6. Are eco-friendly paints of lesser quality? Absolutely not; in fact, Consumer Reports has released an assessment of 57 interior paints currently on the market, including those with low or no VOCs, which were evaluated for hiding performance, surface smoothness, resistance to staining and scrubbing, gloss change, sticking, mildew, and fading, and some eco-friendly brands ranked among the first three places.

MB Jessee has always placed a high priority on corporate responsibility, and started looking closely at how we were doing business and its impact on the environment.

We acknowledge the dangers of some of the products used in the painting industry, and have studied ways to update our painting practices and become more conscious of the world we live in. We have identified where our greatest environmental impacts come from, and are constantly taking steps to reduce the negative impact our business has on the environment. We are dedicated to learning, understanding, and implementing new products and techniques that will be safer for the environment and your family.

We proudly recognize ourselves as a green company, one that honors the promise we live and work by:

  • To take responsibility
  • To never question our customers
  • To care for your home or business
  • To always do the right thing

We offer interior painting, complete exteriors, custom color experts, unique wood stains, decorative finishes, and residential and commercial painting services with a high level of professionalism.

Being an environmentally responsible company takes time, dedication, and the participation of employees and customers alike. In today's world, it is a concept that is far too important to overlook, and to be honest… it has been an amazing ride!

We welcome you to contact us to learn more about our eco-friendly painting services.


Companies We’ve Worked With

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

Best of Oakland 2018 BBB American Society of Interior Designers ASID Leadsafe Certified Firm EPA NARI Member Nolan Summit Services Inc

Customer Reviews

“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

“I can't say enough about how courteous and professional my foreman was. He was on time every morning and arrived cheerful and ready to go. He is highly organized and very thoughtful. He was extremely careful and respectful when moving my belongings - a mature professional.”

— Nora Robinson

“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

“I love the article in the paper on your company. Thank you for supporting our community by painting at the Claremont Middle School. Thanks!”

— Carla Banks

“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

“The finish on my kitchen cabinets had failed, becoming tacky and grimy around the handles. M B Jessee gave me a reasonable quote, far below some others, and did an outstanding job, striping the original varnish and refinishing with a new lacquer finish. The cabinets look like new. Work was done 1 day faster than estimated. The crew was extremely hard-working, considerate, and neat. Highly recommend M B Jessee.”

— Thama B.
San Francisco, CA

“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

“We just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with the work of MB Jessee Painting and your employees. Everything turned out beautiful. Our foreman was great! He was punctual, professional, neat and very accommodating ... and went the extra mile. We will definitely recommend you to our friends and family.”

— Michelle & Rivers Gee

“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

“Hello Matt,Just another notice of thanks to your wonderful crew, Rigoberto, Javier and John. They did fantastic work, with Rigo providing meticulous and conscientious attention to the details and excellent woodwork finishing, as evidenced by the beautiful fireplace. Javier did a fantastic job in the bathroom especially, it looks "brand new," and John always does quality work, both with the interior and exterior. I can tell they care about what they do. Rigo's "punch out" was very thorough, too. I will call again when I need some more work and will definitely recommend your company and fine crew. I also felt as a homeowner, I could leave my house in their good hands during the day and that took a lot of worry from me, they were honest, prompt and reliable. They were also very kind, respectful and clean in their work, very professional. Thank you.”

— Beth Marx & Melissa Kirsch
Oakland

“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

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Serving the San Francisco Bay Area

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