If you've owned your Mesa home for a while, you probably have a list by now: a kitchen that still looks like the year it went in, an original bathroom, thin baseboard, a few windows that have seen better days. We're the remodeling and handyman crew that works through that list, from small repairs to full kitchen and bath remodels, paint and trim, and the estimate is free. We work out of Queen Creek, about 35 minutes from central Mesa with no traffic.
The median Mesa home was built in 1989, and more than half the houses in the city went up before 1990. That puts a lot of Mesa homes at the same point at the same time: dated kitchens, original bathrooms, thin baseboard and windows that are ready to go. Those are the things people call us about most, and it's the kind of work we do every week.
A house from the 1980s usually needs its surfaces brought up to date, not its walls moved. New counters and a backsplash change how a kitchen feels. A bathroom remodel with a tiled shower replaces the original tile and vanity. New trim and crown give plain rooms the finish they never came with. Putting the money into what you see and touch every day is how an older house starts to feel current.
Your Mesa Neighborhood Can Shape What Changes Outside
Mesa has eight locally designated historic districts, among them Evergreen, Glenwood/Wilbur and Temple, the district named for the 1927 Arizona Temple. The homes in them run from early bungalows to post-war ranch houses. If yours is one of them, window changes need Planning approval first, so settle that before you pick one. We'll plan the job around it.
Across the rest of the city, many homeowners live in established communities like Dobson Ranch, Red Mountain Ranch, Las Sendas, Leisure World and Eastmark. If your HOA has rules about exterior colors or materials, bring them to the estimate and we'll work within them.
Paint, Tile and New Counters Skip the Permit in Mesa
In Mesa, a residential permit comes in when the work changes something structural, electrical, mechanical or plumbing inside the house. Finish work doesn't: painting, tiling, carpeting, new countertops and new flooring.
A kitchen that keeps its sink and outlets where they are and gets new counters and a new floor stays a simpler job. Move the plumbing or change the wiring and the permit becomes part of the schedule. We'll tell you which side your project falls on during the estimate.
Going Tankless or Adding a Door Brings In a Mesa Permit
Water heaters and windows are two of the most common handyman calls in Mesa, and each has a clear line. Swapping a gas or electric water heater for a like-for-like model of equal or lesser rating needs no permit. Moving from a storage gas heater to a tankless one does.
Windows split the same way. A replacement that keeps the opening size and matches or beats the old energy rating needs no permit. Making the opening bigger, or turning a window into a door, does.
Mesa's Hard Water Decides Which Finishes Stay Clean
Mesa's water averages about 12 grains of hardness per gallon in the City Zone and 16 in the Eastern and Southern Zones, and depending on the source it can run anywhere from 12 to 22. The suggested softener setting here is 16. Water that hard leaves its mark on glass shower doors, faucets and dark counters.
When we help you choose them, we'll point out the ones that are easier to keep clean in hard water. If your home doesn't have a softener, tell us during the estimate, because it changes which faucets, shower glass and tile finishes we'd recommend.
Mesa Owners Who Plan to Stay Start With the Kitchen and Bath
About 64 percent of Mesa homes are lived in by their owners, and many of them have been in the same hands for years. That changes the kind of work people ask for. When you plan to stay, the money goes into the rooms you use every day, so kitchens and bathrooms come first. After that come the trim, doors and paint that make the whole house feel finished.
What You Can Expect From Us in Mesa
Here's how one of our customers described working with us:
5.0 on Google, 5 reviewsAngi Super Service Award 2024
“★★★★★
“Fabulous. Jimmy and Joe were always gentlemen, kept me informed of what was going on, and their work was very meticulous.”
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Marlene H B.January 2024
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
“★★★★★
“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
“★★★★★
“Perfect, very professional and done correctly. Would use them as first choice.”
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Raymond S.November 2023
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”
Angi Super Service Award 2024
Kay CGoogle reviewGoogle
Kitchen RemodelingBring a 1980s Mesa kitchen up to date with new cabinets, counters and an island.
Bathroom RemodelingReplace original tile and vanities with a shower built for hard water.
Painting and Power WashingFresh exterior paint for stucco and trim that the sun has worn down.
Walls, Trim and CrownTaller baseboard and crown for homes that came with neither.
Garage Floor CoatingsA sealed flake floor in place of years of oil stains.
Handyman and RepairsDoors, fans, drywall and the list that's built up over the years.
