What are the Largest Restoration Companies in the Country?

Looking for reassurance after a disaster? Then you need to know what to look for when hiring a restoration company. From certifications to licensing, we examine the most common trust signs in the restoration industry and explain their meaning. Plus, we list some of the largest restoration companies in the country.

What To Look For When Hiring a Restoration Company in an Emergency?

If you are hiring a restoration company after a natural disaster, you should look for the following:

• IICRC Certification – The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) sets restoration industry standards and offers certification classes for individual technicians and damage restoration businesses.
• RIA Membership – A non-profit trade organization, the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) provides leadership and establishes best practices within the industry.
• BBB A+ Rating – Also look for an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which indicates the company is trustworthy and works to resolve customer complaints quickly. While you may still get quality service, B ratings and lower mean you might have customer service issues.
• Licensed – All contractors should have valid state or local licenses. However, not all areas require licenses. Contact your city, county, and state government to see what is required near you.
• Insured – Almost all restoration companies are insured. While you may think that covers you, it really only guarantees that the company will get reimbursed for damage to its tools, equipment, or people.
• Bonded – More important than insurance, bonded means that the company has coverage in place that covers you and your property if the technicians accidentally damage your home.
• 24-Hour Availability – When disaster strikes, you need help right away. Always look for 24-hour emergency response service.
• 60-Minute Response Time – The damage will only get worse, so it’s important that they can respond in an hour or less.

What Are the Largest Restoration Companies?

Although not a complete list, here are some well know restoration companies in North America.

1-800 Water Damage

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Carpet Cleaning

Founded in Seattle as Cure Water Damage in 1988, 1-800 Water-Damage began expanding nationally in 2002. With more than 70 locations, they offer water, fire, and mold services and carpet cleaning.

911 Restoration

Available Services: Water, Fire, and Mold

911 Restoration is a veteran-owned company that offers extensive disaster cleanup services. Although they started as a carpet cleaning company in Los Angeles, they now offer water, fire, and mold services with more than 120 locations across the country.

AdvantaClean

Available Services: Water and Mold

AdvantaClean was founded in 1994 to help restore Florida after Hurricane Andrew. Employees are trained at their North Carolina headquarters to ensure the highest level of service. There are now more than 230 AdvantaClean locations across 34 states.

Belfor Restoration

Available Services: Water, Fire, and Mold

Belfor is the largest restoration company in the world with more than 7000+ employees. There are more than 100 Belfor locations in the country, and they also operate an extensive fleet of cleanup and repair vehicles. This allows them to get to even the most remote locations quickly.

Bio-One

Available Services: Mold and Biohazard

One of the leading biohazard decontamination companies in the county, Bio-One has more than 80 locations. Their technicians are trained to handle biohazards, sewage, mold, and other hazardous contaminants.

DKI Restoration

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Biohazard

Found as Disaster Kleenup in 1974, DKI Restoration has grown to more than 450 locations across the country. As one of the largest disaster restoration companies, they offer water, fire, mold, and biohazard services.

Paul Davis Restoration

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Biohazard

Found in 1966, Paul Davis Restoration requires employees to get and maintain IICRC certifications. With more than 370 locations, they offer water, fire, mold, and biohazard services.

PuroClean

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Biohazard

With more than fifteen years of experience in the industry, there are more than 260 PuroClean locations. At their PuroClean Academy training center, they teach employees the skills necessary to clean and restore any disaster.

Rainbow International

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Carpet Cleaning

With more than thirty years of experience, Rainbow International has more than 400 locations worldwide. Their technicians are IICRC-certified in water, fire, and mold services and carpeting cleaning.

Restoration 1

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, Biohazard, and Carpet Cleaning

Founded in 2008, Restoration 1 has more than 130 independently owned and operated locations around the nation. Each location is licensed, bonded, and insured. Their technicians are also trained and certified in water, fire, mold, and biohazard cleaning services.

Restoration Local

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Biohazard

Restoration Local started offering restoration services in 2011, growing quickly to cover more than 98% of the United States. Our local specialists offer water, fire, mold, and biohazard removal services with 24-hour emergency services and a 60-minute rapid response.

ServiceMaster

Available Services: Water, Fire, and Mold

ServiceMaster started out in Chicago, Illinois in 1929 as a moth-removal company and later expanded into carpet cleaning and restoration services. Now one of the largest restoration companies, they offer water, fire, and mold services from more than 4500 ServiceMaster locations across the country.

Stanley Steemer

Available Services: Water and Carpet Cleaning

Stanley Steemer started as a carpet cleaning company outside Columbus, Ohio. Since 1947, they’ve grown to more the 300 locations across the country and added other cleaning and restoration services.

Steamatic

Available Services: Water, Fire, Mold, and Carpet Cleaning

Steamatic began as a carpeting cleaning company in Fort Worth, Texas in 1948 before expanding into restoration services. With more than 60 locations across the country, their technicians hold licenses and certifications from the IICRC and RIA.

What Is Restoration?

Restoration is the cleanup and removal of damage after some type of disaster, accident, or traumatic event. However, a restoration company does more than just clean up after a natural disaster. They will also restore your home to its pre-loss condition. The most common restoration services are:

• Water Damage Restoration – Extracting water or sewage and drying the area.
• Fire Damage Restoration – Removing soot stains and smoke odors.
• Mold Removal and Remediation – Remediating mold and repairing the cause.
• Biohazard Cleaning Services – Decontaminating materials that harbor biohazards.

In addition to specific steps associated with each of those services, your restoration contractor will also offer rebuild and reconstruction services. This means they will refinish wood, hang drywall, or install new materials to replace damaged ones.

What Is the Restoration Process?

One benefit of hiring a contractor is they offer comprehensive and cost-effective solutions for any disaster. In addition to cleaning up the mess, they will repair the damage and rebuild your home or business. Although the exact restoration process will vary depending on the cause and type of damage, most services include these basic steps:

• Assessment and Free Quote – Qualified technicians assess the damage and provide a free quote. In emergency water situations, they may expedite the process and start by removing standing water first for a low flat rate.
• Emergency Repairs – If necessary, they will make emergency repairs. Typically this includes shutting off your water or electricity, patching water pipes, or disabling fire sprinklers. Depending on the damage, they may do this before providing your quote for a flat rate as well.
• Cleanup and Disposal – Once you agree to the estimate, they will begin cleanup. This step of the restoration process depends entirely on the type of damage and includes removing water and drying your home, cleaning smoke and soot stains and repairing flame damage, cutting out mold and fixing moisture issues, and removing biohazard contaminants.
• Disinfection and Deodorization – Once the damage is removed, they will disinfect and deodorize your home to prevent mold and odors.
• Reconstruction – Lastly, they will rebuild your home. While they typically restore it to its original or pre-loss condition, remodeling services are available if you want to make upgrades.

Do you need water, fire, mold, or biohazard cleanup? With local, qualified contractors across the country, Restoration Local makes it easy to get fast, reliable cleanup and repairs for your home or commercial property. Call 1-888-443-3110 now for a free quote and immediate disaster restoration services.