Provider profile
Brouwer Brothers Services
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
South Side Chicago homeowners dealing with mold after water damage who want a single company to handle testing, remediation, and reconstruction under one roof.
Best for
- South Side Chicago and south suburban homeowners who need mold remediation tied to water damage or fire damage restoration.
- Property managers in Chicagoland who need a single vendor for duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, and mold work across multiple buildings.
- Homeowners who want mold testing and remediation handled by the same company, and who understand the conflict-of-interest trade-off.
- Insurance-claim situations where the restoration company needs to coordinate directly with adjusters — Brouwer Brothers trains adjusters and works heavily in that channel.
About this company
Brouwer Brothers Services is a Steamatic franchise based on Chicago's South Side, operating out of a 30,000-square-foot restoration center in Alsip, IL. They handle mold testing and remediation alongside water damage, fire restoration, and a broad menu of cleaning services. Mold is one piece of a much larger operation — this is a restoration company first, cleaning company second, with mold work folded into that mix.
On their mold page, they describe setting up containment areas, using HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers to clean air and surfaces, then inspecting for the moisture source — leaking pipes, roof issues, or other water intrusion. They also do mold testing in-house to identify the type and extent before starting work. The website offers online booking through HouseCall Pro, which is unusual for a restoration company.
John and Mick Brouwer bought the Steamatic franchise rights for all of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana in 1969. Rick Brouwer, Mick's son, now owns the business. They employ over 40 people, hold IICRC membership, and are affiliated with RIA, NADCA, and the Indoor Air Quality Association. They also run free continuing education classes for insurance agents and adjusters at their Alsip facility — a signal that they work heavily with insurance claims.
At 4.7 stars across 193 Google reviews, the rating is solid. The vast majority of reviews praise their cleaning services — carpet, duct, and dryer vent work — rather than mold or restoration jobs specifically. Tyree Lockhart, a cleaning technician, dominates the positive reviews.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 10823 S Langley Ave, Chicago, IL 60628, with a 30,000-square-foot restoration center in Alsip, IL. The website lists service areas including Berwyn, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Evanston, Maywood, and Oak Park, with a general claim of serving the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana. One reviewer noted an upcharge for downtown Chicago service.
Review consensus
Tyree Lockhart is the standout. He appears by name in roughly 20 positive reviews, consistently praised for punctuality, politeness, and attention to problem areas. Multiple reviewers specifically say they would request him again. Alex draws praise for dryer vent work and duct cleaning — one reviewer (Brian Shortall) noted Alex safely moved a stackable washer/dryer in a downtown condo, something the homeowner could not do. Roberto earned a mention for responding quickly to an off-hours concern and refusing compensation. Manee is named once alongside Tyree for air duct work. Across the board, reviewers highlight on-time arrivals, before-and-after photos, and clear explanations of the work being done.
2 found across 193 total reviews at 4.7★. Bill Klecka (January 2026, 88 reviews, Local Guide) describes a fire restoration rebuild where Brouwer Brothers allegedly did not know building codes, missed deadlines repeatedly, and failed to seal the crawl space before reconstruction — resulting in standing water the homeowner says was never there before the fire. The company reportedly told him the crawl space was not in the estimate and that the water was a pre-existing condition. Jose Rodriguez (March 2025, 1 review) called them the worst restoration company, citing lack of proper equipment, but gave no specifics.
The gap between cleaning reviews and restoration reviews is striking. Tyree and the cleaning crew generate steady five-star feedback for carpet, duct, and vent work. The two negative reviews both involve restoration projects — the complex, high-stakes work where project management, code compliance, and communication matter most. The company did not respond to either negative review, which stands in contrast to a business that otherwise earns strong word-of-mouth. This zero percent owner response rate on negatives, combined with the restoration-specific complaints, suggests the office-to-field handoff on larger projects may not match the consistency of routine cleaning jobs.
Tyree Lockhart (cleaning technician — overwhelmingly positive, named in ~20 reviews for carpet, duct, furniture, and vent cleaning). Alex (technician — positive, praised for dryer vent and duct work). Roberto (technician — positive, praised for quick emergency response and generosity). Manee (technician — positive, named once for air duct cleaning alongside Tyree).
For carpet, duct, or dryer vent cleaning, Brouwer Brothers delivers — ask for Tyree Lockhart by name. For mold remediation or restoration work, proceed with more caution. Get an independent mold test before agreeing to their remediation scope, ask for a written timeline with milestones, and confirm in writing what the estimate does and does not cover.
Keep in mind
- Brouwer Brothers does both mold testing and mold remediation. The company that tells you whether you have a problem is the same company that profits from fixing it. Ask for a copy of any test results and consider getting an independent second opinion before committing to remediation.
- Most of their 193 Google reviews are for cleaning services — carpet, duct, and dryer vent work. Very few reviews mention mold remediation or restoration projects specifically, so the 4.7-star rating reflects their cleaning operation more than their mold work.
- One detailed 1-star review from January 2026 describes a fire restoration job where the company did not seal a crawl space before rebuilding, leading to water intrusion the homeowner says did not exist before. The owner did not respond to this review.
- The owner response rate on recent negative reviews is 0%. Neither of the two 1-star reviews from the last 18 months received a reply.
- Their website lists service areas including Berwyn, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Evanston, Maywood, and Oak Park, with 'more coming soon' — but their Our Story page also mentions traveling nationwide for large-loss Steamatic franchise support. Confirm they will service your specific location before booking.