Provider profile
PuroClean of Birmingham
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Birmingham-area homeowners facing water damage or mold after a pipe burst or storm who want a PuroClean franchise with a large reconstruction crew and a named project manager (ask for Rey) managing the full job from mitigation through rebuild.
Best for
- Birmingham, Irondale, Hoover, and Vestavia Hills homeowners dealing with water damage from pipe bursts, appliance failures, or storm flooding who need same-day emergency response.
- Homeowners who want mitigation and reconstruction handled by the same company rather than coordinating separate contractors for drywall, flooring, cabinets, and painting after water or fire damage.
- Insurance claim situations where you want a company that coordinates directly with your carrier and documents the damage for the claims process.
- Commercial property owners or landlords with rental properties needing water damage or mold work across multiple units.
About this company
PuroClean of Birmingham is a PuroClean franchise based in Irondale, Alabama, serving the greater Birmingham metro. Hunter Jones founded this location in 2014 after working in third-party claims management and commercial banking. He holds IICRC certifications in water restoration (WTR), applied structural drying (ASD), fire and smoke restoration (FSRT), applied microbial remediation (AMRT), and odor control (OCT). The company handles water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold removal, biohazard cleanup, and full reconstruction for both residential and commercial properties.
What stands out is the size of the reconstruction operation. Most restoration companies subcontract the rebuild. This team runs it in-house with project manager Rey Escobar overseeing crews that handle drywall, flooring, cabinetry, roofing, and deck construction. Reviewers describe full kitchen rebuilds after dishwasher leaks, bathroom remodels after pipe bursts, roof replacements after storm damage, and deck reconstruction after tree falls, all managed end-to-end by the same company. The website describes their QuickDry System using infrared cameras, moisture meters, commercial-grade air movers, and dehumidification equipment. They also use HEPA air filtration devices with negative pressure containment for mold work, and EPA-registered disinfectants for cleaning.
The operation has grown into a sizable team. Reviews name over a dozen staff members across mitigation and rebuild roles. Laura Crowe handles scheduling and insurance coordination. Rey Escobar runs reconstruction projects. Antonio Little leads mitigation crews. Ross, Shawn West, Andrew, and John Bullock handle estimates and field work. The company is EPA Lead Safe and holds IICRC firm certification.
4.9 stars across 246 Google reviews is a strong record for a restoration company with this volume. The rating holds up across both mitigation and reconstruction work, which are operationally different services that each generate their own complaints at most companies.
Services
Service area
Based in Irondale, Alabama, serving the greater Birmingham metro. The website lists 16 communities: Birmingham, Brook Highland, Center Point, Fultondale, Gardendale, Hoover, Indian Springs Village, Inverness, Irondale, Kimberly, Meadowbrook, Morris, Mountain Brook, Pinson, Tarrant, and Vestavia Hills. Reviewers confirm jobs in Birmingham, Hoover, and Moody. The coverage area is geographically reasonable for a single-location operation in the Birmingham metro.
Review consensus
Rey Escobar is mentioned by name in roughly 15 reviews spanning nine months of rebuild projects: kitchen repairs, bathroom remodels, floor replacements, roof work, and deck construction. Reviewers consistently describe him as communicative, on time, and willing to explain each step. Antonio Little draws praise as a mitigation foreman for being polite, knowledgeable, and fast. Laura Crowe is named for scheduling, insurance coordination, and keeping homeowners informed. Ross gets credit for honest assessments and mold remediation management. Shawn West is praised for professionalism and quick response during emergencies. Andrew is noted for explaining the drying process clearly during basement water damage jobs. Multiple reviewers describe the company responding the same day their insurance company contacted them, and several mention the team handling everything from water extraction through final reconstruction without needing outside contractors.
3 found across 246 total reviews at 4.9★. 3 found across 246 total reviews at 4.9★. Collier Clark (1 star, January 2025, Local Guide with 41 reviews) described a water mitigation job where a dehumidifier and air scrubber sat on-site for 16 days while moisture readings stayed at 99%. Critical tasks from the initial plan, including cabinet and drywall removal, were never completed. The company charged $3,200 without the customer signing a Certificate of Satisfaction. The owner response stated that insurance did not provide coverage for the full scope and without payment authorization they could not proceed, framing it as an insurance gap rather than a service failure. De Green (2 stars, September 2025, Local Guide with 45 reviews) reported being unable to reach Laura or Justin for follow-up electrical work after a prior job. The reviewer described calls going unanswered and emails bouncing. Roger Smith (3 stars, January 2026, 1 review) left no text.
The review profile splits cleanly between two types of work: emergency water mitigation (led by Antonio Little, Andrew, and Ross) and post-damage reconstruction (led by Rey Escobar). The reconstruction reviews read almost like a separate business, with Rey mentioned as project manager on jobs ranging from flooring to full roofing. This dual operation is unusual for a PuroClean franchise. The two negatives both involve follow-through problems after the initial response: equipment left too long in one case, unreachable staff in the other. The initial response itself draws no complaints. Owner responses are present but limited in the negative reviews. The one response on Collier Clark's review engages with the substance but attributes fault to insurance limitations rather than acknowledging the 16-day equipment issue.
Rey Escobar (project manager, reconstruction — positive across 15+ reviews for communication, timeliness, and quality of rebuild work). Laura Crowe (office manager/scheduling — positive in multiple reviews for insurance coordination and scheduling; named in one negative for being unreachable during follow-up). Antonio Little (mitigation foreman — positive in 5+ reviews for professionalism, speed, and knowledge). Ross (estimator/manager — positive for honest assessments and mold remediation). Shawn West (field contact — positive for professionalism during emergencies). Andrew (technician — positive for explaining drying process and crawl space work). Emmanuel Martinez (technician — positive for floor replacement and rebuild work). John Bullock (technician — positive for energy and responsiveness). Tony (technician — positive). Peter (technician — positive). Les (technician — positive). Tyler (technician — positive). Blake (technician — positive). Phil (technician — positive). DJ, Oscar, Michelle, Gabe (technicians — positive, named in one ceiling collapse response). Dave (technician — positive for crawl space cleanup). Justin (staff — named in one negative for being unreachable).
Ask for Rey Escobar if your job involves reconstruction after water or fire damage. For mitigation, Antonio Little's name comes up repeatedly. The 4.9-star rating across 246 reviews is earned and holds across both halves of the business. The two substantive complaints both involve post-initial-response follow-through, not the quality of the work itself. Get written confirmation of what happens if your insurance does not cover the full mitigation scope, and lock down the follow-up contact process before the crew leaves.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. The same company identifying your mold problem is the one billing to fix it. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation scope.
- One detailed 1-star review describes equipment left on-site for 16 days without bringing moisture levels below 99%, followed by a $3,200 charge without the customer signing a Certificate of Satisfaction. The owner response attributed the incomplete work to insurance not covering the full scope. If your insurance coverage is limited, clarify upfront what happens if your claim does not cover the full mitigation plan.
- A 2-star reviewer reported difficulty reaching Laura and Justin after needing follow-up electrical work, describing blocked calls and bounced emails. If you need post-completion warranty work, get the follow-up timeline and contact commitment in writing.
- One reviewer (Barbara Pulaski) describes working with a Justin Rivers at a PuroClean in Leominster, Massachusetts, not the Birmingham location. Some Google reviews may be for other PuroClean franchises posted to the wrong listing.