We're Jimmy Griffin and crew, a remodeling and handyman company that makes the drive up to Fountain Hills, about 52 minutes from our Queen Creek base with no traffic. Most homes here went up in the 1980s and 1990s, which puts their kitchens, bathrooms and lighting right at the age for a refresh. We handle the remodel, the repair list and the finish work, and the estimate is free.
Most Fountain Hills Homes Are Thirty Years Into Their Finishes
The 1990s are the biggest decade for Fountain Hills homes, with about 35 percent built then, and another 23 percent date to the 1980s. The typical home was built in 1994. That's old enough that the original tile, cabinets, vanities and light fixtures are showing their years, but young enough that the bones are usually sound.
It also means the work is mostly about finishes, not rebuilding. A kitchen remodel with new cabinets and counters, a bathroom remodel built around a walk-in shower, or new baseboard and crown molding can bring a 1990s house up to date without opening walls. And with about 84 percent of homes lived in by their owners, these are rooms people plan to enjoy for years, which is why we start with how you use the space, not a catalog.
Finish Work in Fountain Hills Usually Skips the Permit
The Town's 2024 building code amendments list the jobs that need no permit at all: painting, wallpaper, tile, carpet, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work. That covers a lot of what a cosmetic remodel involves.
What's not on that list is anything that moves plumbing, wiring or mechanical equipment, and the Town treats a water heater replacement as an over-the-counter permit. So a new vanity and tile floor can go ahead on their own, while relocating a shower drain or adding circuits brings the permit step in. We'll tell you which side your project lands on during the estimate, before you commit to anything.
Fountain Hills Dark Sky Rules Shape New Outdoor Lighting
Fountain Hills is an International Dark Sky Community, a designation the Town announced in 2018. Its lighting rules apply to any new or replacement outdoor fixture: brighter fixtures have to be shielded so they point down, and the light color can't go above 3000K, the warm white end of the range.
That matters the moment you swap a porch light or add fixtures to a patio. We choose fixtures that meet the rules before we install them, so the new lights look right and stay legal, and the night sky stays as dark as the town wants it.
Fountain Hills Water Is Very Hard
EPCOR supplies Fountain Hills, blending Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project with groundwater from under the town. Its latest report puts hardness at about 16 grains per gallon, which EPCOR itself calls very hard.
Hard water leaves spots on glass shower doors and builds up on faucets and showerheads. When we plan a bathroom here, we steer you toward finishes and fixtures that hide mineral spots and wipe clean, so the new room keeps looking new.
Fountain Hills Is a Town Built Around Its Fountain
Fountain Hills grew up around the fountain built in 1970 in what's now Fountain Park, a 64-acre park with a 29-acre lake at the center of town. On a normal day the fountain stands about 300 feet tall. The town sits on the lower slopes of the McDowell Mountains, 400 to 500 feet higher than most of the Valley, among rocky ridges, washes and communities like Eagle Mountain, Firerock and Sunridge Canyon.
What Fountain Hills Homeowners Can Expect
Here's how one customer described working with us:
5.0 on Google, 5 reviewsAngi Super Service Award 2024
“★★★★★
“Perfect, very professional and done correctly. Would use them as first choice.”
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Raymond S.November 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“We interviewed 3 other general contractors before deciding to sign with Jim and Joe Griffin at New England Upgrades. It turned out to be a 3.5 month total remodeling project of our 1,100 square foot 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom condo.” Read the full review
Kay CGoogle review
Google
“★★★★★
“Have nothing but good things to say about New England Upgrades. What started out as a bathroom renovation became a whole house (and yard) renovation. Jimmy and Joe were able to quickly determine what I wanted and needed and were able to help guide me through choices and decisions I had to make.” Read the full review
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Jill F.Google review
Google
“★★★★★
“Fabulous. Jimmy and Joe were always gentlemen, kept me informed of what was going on, and their work was very meticulous. They took their time to do the job correctly and efficiently.”
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Marlene H B.January 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“NEU did a fantastic job out here in Scottsdale. It was a pleasure working with their team. The communication was great and the work was amazing. I will definitely use Jimmy and Joe again for my next project.”
“Great they were courteous and did a good job kept me informed on their progress”
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Nana E.August 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Jimmy was awesome! Did everything so well and within a few hours! Will definitely be hiring again!”
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Lexi D.July 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Went great problem solved!”
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Michael I.June 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Excellent. My cabinets were raised and time was left, so they fixed my closet doors. Such gentlemen. The work was excellent.”
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Rhonda G.February 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Jimmy was a great communicator throughout the entire time I was speaking with him about the job. He does quality work in an efficient time frame. Great personality and easy going. Definitely will be going to him for future services.”
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Vaughn V.February 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Jimmy did everything we needed to get done, work was excellent and reasonable cost”
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William F.February 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Great brother-duo. All around knowledge of fixing the home. Anything I mentioned, they were willing to complete!!! Friendly, professional! Have a need in the home? Call them!!!”
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Shawn J.October 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“It when exceptionally well, would definitely use them again and would recommend them to my friend and family”
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Anna A.October 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Very productive and efficient! Courteous!”
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Kristen H.August 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Very happy with the results of their services! There were many needed repairs at a rental and they were all done quickly and completely. Thank you.”
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John P.August 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“They were very professional and on time. Went above and beyond in all the work they did, even offered to help fix my running toilet! Took me five years but I finally found a handyman/contractor I trust.”
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Karen C.July 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“It went very well. Jimmy G is great man.fun personality , hard worker. Nice clean work”
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Sue F.May 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“James Griffin does excellent work, very attentive to details. He let us know when he was arriving and leaving and was always in a good mood, singing or whistling while he worked. He knew which experts to call in for specific work, i.e., electric, plumbing, stucco.” Read the full review
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Melvin & Suzanne S.April 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Outstanding work, polite, very clean and very professional. Thank you for all your help you are amazing.”
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Richard T.February 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Great !! Jimmy Hriffin was very proficient and knowledgeable.”
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Patricia C.January 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Promptly showed up & the mess I started he did a perfect to cover it up. Angie won't hire me! Plus found out he can do many other jobs & a definite hire he would be.”
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Sharon A.January 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Excellent. Jimmy was quick, professional and friendly. Chatted on the phone, he was in the area and came right over!”
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Janet E.January 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“We are very pleased with having the interior of our cement block fence painted with elastomeric paint.”
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Brian M.December 2022
Angi
“★★★★★
“Does a great job. Will be doing a second bathroom for us soon”
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Warren ISeptember 2020, bathroom remodel
“★★★★★
“Jimmy's crew were great. They arrived on time, finished the job in one day, and left the area immaculate. They were very respectful. I would definitely hire them again.”
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Melissa K.October 2022, exterior painting
“★★★★★
“We had some miscommunication about the scope of work but we settled it amicably. The work was timely and very professional. I would definitely hire them again.”
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Janeen H.November 2022, exterior painting
“★★★★★
“Very easy to work with. Added on numerous other jobs - Jimmy was very knowledgeable about them all. Inside painting -workers were very considerate and cleaned up at the end of each day for two week job. Jimmy will be back in spring to do outside painting and power wash.”
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Gail S.January 2021, interior painting
“★★★★★
“They painted my whole house, replaced my kitchen floor and power washed the house. I would highly recommend them. They did a great job and were a pleasure to work with. I wouldn't hesitate to hire them again.”
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Nancy F.October 2020, interior painting
“★★★★★
“The gentleman who took care of the work was exceedingly professional. He showed up right on time, went to work promptly, was completed in a short amount of time and picked up after himself when the job was finished. The job itself was done exactly as we had hoped, and looked just great.”
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Barbara S.January 2022, interior trim and decorative moldings
“★★★★★
“His knowledge of the job is price was right on. Showed up on time completed the job. Good work”
Yes. Fountain Hills is about 52 minutes from our Queen Creek base without traffic, and we take remodels and repair jobs there.
Do I need a permit to redo my Fountain Hills kitchen?
Not for cabinets, countertops, tile and paint, which the Town lists as exempt finish work. Moving plumbing or wiring brings in a permit, and we'll tell you which applies during the estimate.
Can you replace my outdoor lights in Fountain Hills?
Yes. We pick fixtures that meet the Town's dark sky rules, shielded where needed and no cooler than 3000K.
Angi Super Service Award 2024
Kay CGoogle reviewGoogle
Kitchen RemodelingNew cabinets, counters and backsplashes for 1990s kitchens.
Bathroom RemodelingWalk-in showers and vanities picked to stand up to very hard water.
Walls, Trim and CrownTaller baseboard, crown and accent walls to finish a room.
Painting and Power WashingInterior color changes and exterior paint for sun and wind.
Handyman and RepairsDoors, fixtures, outdoor lights and the list of small fixes.
Garage Floor CoatingsA sealed flake floor that sweeps clean.
