Provider profile
PuroClean Emergency Restoration Services
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
St. Augustine homeowners dealing with water damage or mold after plumbing failures or Florida humidity, backed by a 238-review track record and 24/7 emergency dispatch from an owner-operated PuroClean franchise.
Best for
- St. Augustine and northeast Florida homeowners who need same-day water extraction or mold remediation with 24/7 availability
- Homeowners with hardwood floors at risk from water damage, since the crew runs a specialty drying system designed to minimize refinishing
- Property owners who want a single company to handle water mitigation through reconstruction without switching contractors
- Airbnb and rental property owners in St. Augustine Beach and surrounding areas who need fast-turnaround biohazard or water damage response
- Insurance-claim situations where you need a restoration company that works directly with carriers on documentation and filing
About this company
PuroClean Emergency Restoration Services is a PuroClean franchise based in St. Augustine, Florida, owned by Russell Benes. Benes spent eight years in the U.S. Navy and over 20 years as a firefighter and paramedic before opening this location. The company handles water damage, mold remediation, fire and smoke damage, biohazard cleanup, and reconstruction for both residential and commercial properties.
The operation runs 24/7 emergency response and carries IICRC credentials along with EPA Lead-Safe certification. For water damage, crews use thermal imaging, moisture meters, commercial-grade pumps, and high-velocity air movers. They also run a specialty hardwood floor drying system that uses heat and desiccant dehumidification, which is worth asking about if you have wood floors at risk. The website mentions EPA-registered disinfectants for sanitizing and deodorizing.
Benes runs this as an owner-operator model. Multiple reviewers describe him showing up personally for initial assessments, and his field crews rotate through named technicians like Nate, Keith, Justin, and Jared who appear repeatedly across reviews spanning more than two years. That kind of staff continuity in a restoration company is uncommon.
4.8 stars across 238 Google reviews is a strong number for a restoration company. Only 2 reviews at 3 stars or below have appeared in the last 18 months, and both center on repair-phase pricing rather than the mitigation or remediation work itself.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 155 International Golf Pkwy in St. Augustine, Florida. The website lists service coverage across St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Orange Park, Saint Johns, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, and Fleming Island. That spans a wide stretch of northeast Florida from Flagler County to Duval County, so confirm response times if your property is far from St. Augustine.
Review consensus
Nate appears in the most reviews and draws praise for being knowledgeable, communicative, and calm under pressure. Keith is the second most mentioned, frequently paired with Levi for water mitigation work, praised for efficiency and respect for the home. Justin and Tyler get repeated call-outs for mold and water jobs, with reviewers describing them as meticulous and courteous. Jared manages larger reconstruction projects and reviewers note strong communication. Matt handles inspections and estimates and reviewers describe him as clear and direct. Cassandra runs phone intake and scheduling, and reviewers note she is responsive and helpful. Anthony appears across carpet cleaning and water mitigation reviews with consistent praise. Russell Benes, the owner, shows up for initial assessments and weekend emergencies, which reviewers notice and appreciate.
2 found across 238 total reviews at 4.8★. Carl Swanson, a Google Local Guide with 204 reviews, described a water leak drying job where he paid $1,500 for mitigation, then received a $2,600 quote to reinstall baseboard and quarter round that the crew had removed and hauled away. He got the same work done by another contractor for $750 in materials and labor. The owner responded with a generic apology but did not address the pricing gap. Angie P, a Local Guide with 38 reviews, gave the mold remediation team 5 stars but rated the repair phase 1 star, citing poor communication and work quality that did not match the cost. The owner's response acknowledged the frustration and noted a partial refund was issued.
Both negative reviews target the repair and reconstruction phase, not the initial mitigation or remediation work. This suggests a gap between the mitigation crews (who get consistently strong reviews) and the repair side of the operation. The owner responds to 100% of negative reviews, but Carl's response was a generic apology template while Angie's was more specific and included mention of a partial refund. Worth watching whether the repair-phase complaints continue.
Nate (technician — consistently positive), Keith (technician — consistently positive), Justin (technician — consistently positive), Tyler (technician — positive), Jared (project manager — positive), Matt (inspections/estimates — positive in positives, praised by name in Angie P's otherwise mixed review), Cassandra (phone intake/scheduling — positive, praised by name in Angie P's mixed review), Levi (technician — positive), Anthony (technician/carpet cleaning — positive), Jay (technician — positive), Hunter (technician — positive), Trevor (technician — positive), Q (technician — positive), Jack (technician — positive), Zach (technician — positive), Noah (technician — positive), Jim (carpet cleaning — positive), Neil (technician — positive), Jason (technician — positive), Stephen/Steven (carpet/technician — positive), Chris (floor cleaning — positive), John (technician — positive), Russell Benes (owner — positive in most reviews, mentioned neutrally in Carl's negative as initially pleasant but unresponsive on pricing).
The mitigation and remediation crews at this PuroClean franchise earn their 4.8-star rating. Ask for Nate, Keith, or Justin if you can. Where you need to be careful is the repair and reconstruction phase: get a written scope of work with itemized pricing before they start, and get a second estimate from an independent contractor if the numbers feel high. Confirm in writing which materials they plan to remove and whether anything will be disposed of.
Keep in mind
- Two recent reviewers describe repair-phase quotes that ran two to three times higher than what independent contractors charged for the same work. The mitigation side gets strong reviews, but get a second quote before committing to their reconstruction or repair services.
- This is a franchise operation under the PuroClean national brand. Pricing follows PuroClean's industry-standard pricing systems, which may run higher than independent operators.
- They claim a wide service area covering St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Orange Park, Saint Johns, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, and Fleming Island. Confirm response times for locations far from their 155 International Golf Pkwy headquarters.
- One reviewer reported that baseboard removed during water mitigation was hauled off without discussion, creating unexpected costs for replacement. Clarify upfront what materials will be removed and whether they will be preserved or disposed of.