Provider profile
DEC Fire & Water Restoration of Montgomery
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Montgomery homeowners dealing with water damage who want one company to handle mitigation, mold work, and reconstruction under a single project plan with insurance documentation.
Best for
- Montgomery-area homeowners who need water damage mitigation and mold remediation handled by the same company without coordinating separate contractors.
- Property owners facing insurance claims who want a restoration company that documents the process and manages the claims paperwork.
- Commercial property managers needing a single vendor for water, fire, and mold work across office, retail, or multi-unit buildings.
- Homeowners who need financing for restoration work, since DEC offers same-as-cash and fixed-rate loan options through EnerBank.
About this company
DEC Fire & Water Restoration runs a Montgomery branch out of 889 Plantation Way, part of a family-owned Alabama company headquartered in Birmingham. Their primary identity is water and fire damage restoration, not standalone mold work. Mold remediation falls under their broader restoration umbrella, typically triggered by water intrusion they already mitigated.
The Montgomery office handles the full sequence: emergency water extraction, drying, mold remediation, and reconstruction. Their website describes a four-step mold process: inspection with moisture meters, containment with negative air, antimicrobial treatment and material removal, then drying and reconstruction. They hold IICRC certification and offer financing through EnerBank for out-of-pocket costs. They also handle insurance claims documentation and case management in-house.
DEC started in 1999 and now operates offices in Birmingham, Montgomery, Auburn/Opelika, and Decatur. The company claims service coverage across Alabama, into Tennessee and Georgia. They run a 24/7 emergency line and employ dedicated field crews for mitigation alongside separate project coordinators for reconstruction.
4.8 stars on Google with 35 reviews is strong for a Montgomery restoration company. The positive reviews cluster around fast emergency response and named crew members who show up repeatedly, suggesting stable staffing on the mitigation side.
Services
Service area
DEC operates from a Montgomery office at 889 Plantation Way. They also have offices in Birmingham, Auburn/Opelika, and Decatur. Their website claims coverage across Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, listing dozens of cities. That is an extremely broad territory for four offices, so confirm crew dispatch location for your specific address.
Review consensus
Craig Bruce appears in more reviews than any other employee, working as account manager on water damage jobs. Reviewers describe him as responsive and hands-on. Logan Wyatt and Brittany Rodgers handle project coordination and reconstruction scheduling, drawing praise for communication and follow-through. On the mitigation side, Trey Bell, Jamal, Daniel Richards, Arnez, Richard, Anthony, and Zach form the field crew and get consistent praise for fast response, respectful behavior, and clear explanations of the drying process. Mitchell Mims coordinates alongside Logan and Brittany. Multiple reviewers mention same-day or next-day arrival after water emergencies.
2 found across 35 total reviews at 4.8★. Steven Foster hired DEC after a major water leak for both mitigation and reconstruction. The mitigation team caused a secondary leak and wall dents. Reconstruction was subcontracted to a crew Foster called inexperienced. The initial estimate was inflated until Foster pushed back. A two-week job took six weeks with multiple return visits. Foster credits Logan specifically for stepping in and arranging a better crew, but says the overall result could not be salvaged. J T describes a bathroom remodel after water damage where no wax seal was placed on the toilet, leading to new floor damage years later. J T also reports subcontractors going unpaid despite insurance payments, workers smoking in the house, and items ripped off walls causing damage.
Both negative reviews target the reconstruction phase, not mitigation. DEC's mitigation crews (Trey, Jamal, Daniel, Craig) get praised even by the reviewer who gave 1 star. The breakdown happens when DEC subcontracts reconstruction work. This is a common structural pattern in restoration companies: the in-house emergency team is strong, but the rebuild gets handed to outside contractors with less oversight. Owner responses are templates that do not address specific complaints, suggesting reputation management over problem resolution.
Craig Bruce (account manager — positive, named in 5+ reviews). Logan Wyatt (project coordinator — positive in many reviews, also the only positive element in Steven Foster's 1-star review). Brittany Rodgers (project coordinator — positive). Mitchell Mims (project coordinator — positive). Trey Bell (field crew — positive). Jamal (field crew — positive). Daniel Richards (field crew — positive). Arnez (field crew — positive). Richard/Rich (field crew — positive). Anthony (field crew — positive). Zach/Zack (field crew — positive). Danny (equipment tech — positive). Alan (field crew — positive). Maddi Kim (office — positive). Brad Watson (mold inspection — positive). Sarah (field crew — positive). Matthew (field crew — positive). Dexter (field crew — positive). Jamie (field crew — positive). Skyler (field crew — positive).
DEC's mitigation side earns its 4.8 stars. Ask for Craig as your account manager and you will likely get fast, well-coordinated water extraction and drying. The risk is reconstruction: if your project requires rebuilding, ask upfront whether DEC's own crew or a subcontractor will do the work, and get a written scope and timeline before signing. Request Logan's involvement on the coordination side if your job involves rebuild.
Keep in mind
- DEC does both mold testing and mold remediation. A company that finds the mold and then gets paid to remove it has a financial incentive to find problems. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before agreeing to remediation work.
- Both negative reviews describe problems with subcontracted reconstruction crews: inflated estimates, extended timelines, and workmanship errors. The mitigation teams get praised, but the handoff to reconstruction is where things broke down.
- Owner responses to negative reviews follow a template pattern. Neither response engages with the specific complaints raised. One claims no record of the reviewer.
- DEC claims service territory across Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia from four offices. For Montgomery jobs, confirm the crew dispatches from the local office, not from Birmingham or elsewhere.
- Mold remediation is not DEC's primary business. They are a water and fire restoration company that does mold work as part of larger projects. If you need mold-only service with no prior water event, ask whether they assign the same level of attention to standalone mold jobs.