Provider profile
Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Jacksonville-area homeowners dealing with insurance-assigned water or mold damage who want a national franchise with 24/7 response and a large field crew.
Best for
- Homeowners in Jacksonville, the beaches, or Nassau County who need mold remediation handled through an insurance claim.
- Property owners facing combined water damage and mold who want a single company to handle mitigation through reconstruction.
- Commercial property managers or business owners who need a restoration company with large-loss capacity and a dedicated commercial division.
- Anyone needing emergency water extraction at odd hours, since response times are a consistent strength in reviews.
- Landlords managing rental properties with moisture-driven mold issues in older homes or crawl spaces.
About this company
Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida is a franchise location of the national Paul Davis network, headquartered at 2111 N Liberty St in Jacksonville. Mold is one piece of a much larger operation: they handle water damage, fire and smoke restoration, storm damage, biohazard cleanup, content restoration, and full reconstruction. Insurance companies regularly assign them claims directly, which means many customers don't choose Paul Davis so much as get paired with them.
On the mold side, they offer both testing and remediation. Their website mentions antimicrobial treatments and air filtration as part of their mold process. The IICRC certification applies to their team. Their 24/7 emergency response is a real differentiator for water events that can lead to mold if not dried quickly. They also run a commercial division handling large-loss and industrial restoration, plus a property manager program.
The Paul Davis franchise network was founded in 1966 and has grown to over 300 locations. This North Florida franchise covers a wide swath of Northeast Florida, from the beaches (Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach) to inland communities (Orange Park, Middleburg, Macclenny) and north to Yulee and Fernandina Beach.
305 Google reviews at 4.5 stars is a solid volume for a restoration company. The rating sits right at the boundary where most customers report positive experiences, but a handful of negative ones point to specific friction areas worth understanding before hiring.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida at 2111 N Liberty St. Their website lists service to Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Orange Park, Middleburg, Neptune Beach, Hilliard, Fleming Island, Callahan, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Yulee, and Macclenny. This covers Duval, Nassau, Clay, and Baker counties across Northeast Florida.
Review consensus
Scott Lakey, mitigation supervisor, is the standout name. He appears in well over a dozen reviews, praised for clear explanations of the insurance process, fast on-site arrivals, and detailed moisture assessments. Ellis, Akeem, and Brian form the core mitigation field crew and are frequently mentioned together for working quickly and respectfully. George Zeagler draws praise for rebuild quality. Ryan Greene is noted for project management on bathroom and interior renovations. Melba Williams is named for coordinating schedules and keeping homeowners informed. Chase is praised for after-hours phone support. Multiple reviewers highlight same-day or next-day response for water emergencies. The team draws repeated praise for explaining each step of the process and working around homeowner schedules.
3 found across 305 total reviews at 4.5★. Three complaints cover distinct issues. Annette Scherr reported that containment tape peeled paint from her ceilings during mold remediation, and Paul Davis declined responsibility. The owner response noted that containment was required by the insurance carrier and that low-adhesion tape was used, but acknowledged the damage. Michael Wood alleged that a tablet presented for a signature turned out to be a work authorization rather than a simple estimate acknowledgment. He also disputed charges for a dehumidifier left running without proper containment. The owner response said pricing follows standardized insurance estimating software and that the insurance carrier was refunded for work not performed. Chandra Lukas, a neighbor of a fire victim, reported a Paul Davis vehicle circling the block six times within 20 minutes after fire trucks left. The owner response acknowledged the situation, apologized, and said they addressed it internally.
The negative reviews each describe a different problem, so there is no single repeating failure pattern. What ties them loosely is the franchise model tension: Paul Davis operates at the intersection of insurance companies, homeowners, and subcontractors, which creates friction points around document authorization, scope of work disputes, and aggressive business development. The owner responds to 100% of negative reviews with detailed, personalized replies that engage with specifics rather than offering a generic phone number. That response quality is above average. The one template-style response was to Kate Kettell's 2-star review, which is the only one that felt like deflection rather than engagement.
Scott Lakey (mitigation supervisor — strongly positive, named in 15+ reviews). Ellis (mitigation technician — positive, named in 10+ reviews). Akeem (mitigation technician — positive, named in 8+ reviews). Brian (mitigation technician — positive, named in 5+ reviews). George Zeagler (construction supervisor/rebuild — positive). Ryan Greene (project manager — positive). Melba Williams (coordination/scheduling — positive). Chase (after-hours phone support — positive). Harrison (field crew — positive). Rod (field crew — positive). Aaron (field crew — positive). Steven/Stephen (field crew — positive). Wes (technician — positive). Randall (field crew — positive). Erek (field crew — positive). Patrick O'Neill (technician — positive). Manuel/Carlos Manuel (referral coordination — positive). Luis (field crew — positive). Phil (field crew — positive). Jasmine (staff — positive).
Ask for Scott Lakey if your job involves water or mold mitigation. He is by far the most-praised person on staff and reviewers consistently describe him as clear and responsive. Read every document before signing, especially on a tablet, and make sure you understand whether it is an estimate or a work authorization. If your project involves upgrades or change orders beyond the insurance scope, get that estimate in writing before demolition begins.
Keep in mind
- Paul Davis does both mold testing and mold remediation. That creates a financial conflict of interest: the company identifying your mold problem is the same one billing to fix it. Ask whether they use a third-party industrial hygienist for testing, or request one yourself.
- Insurance companies often assign Paul Davis to claims, which means you may not have chosen them. You still have the right to select a different contractor if the relationship isn't working.
- One reviewer described a Paul Davis vehicle circling a neighbor's fire scene minutes after the trucks left, soliciting business. The company acknowledged this was inappropriate. Ask how they handle initial outreach after emergencies.
- A separate reviewer alleged deceptive document signing practices, claiming a tablet was presented as 'just for an estimate' but turned out to be a work authorization. Read everything before you sign, and ask for copies.
- Their service area spans from Macclenny to the beaches and north to Hilliard. Confirm response times for locations far from their Jacksonville headquarters.