Provider profile
5 Star Restoration Specialists Inc.
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Lake County homeowners dealing with water damage or mold after a basement flood who want a bilingual, family-owned restoration company with a 45-minute response-time pledge.
Best for
- Lake County and southern Wisconsin homeowners who need emergency water extraction and mold remediation from a single company that handles the full cycle through reconstruction.
- Property owners who need a Spanish-speaking crew — the company is bilingual and operates out of Waukegan, a heavily bilingual community.
- Homeowners who want help navigating insurance claims — the company coordinates directly with major carriers and provides documentation for adjusters.
About this company
5 Star Restoration Specialists is a family-owned restoration company based in Waukegan, IL, serving Lake County and parts of southern Wisconsin. Their primary identity is water damage restoration — that is their Google category and the scenario most reviewers describe — but they also handle mold remediation, fire and smoke cleanup, storm damage, sewage cleanup, leak detection, and full reconstruction.
On the mold side, their website describes using air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, and negative air machines to isolate affected areas during remediation. They mention antifungal treatments and post-remediation air quality monitoring. They also offer mold inspection, which means they both test for and remove mold — a structural conflict of interest worth understanding before you hire them for both services.
Services
Service area
Based in Waukegan, IL. Serves Lake County communities including Highland Park, Gurnee, Mundelein, North Chicago, Glenview, Lake Forest, Grayslake, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Deerfield, Beach Park, and Wilmette. Also lists Kenosha and Racine in Wisconsin, though how regularly they send crews across the state line is worth confirming.
Review consensus
Raphael (also spelled Rafael) Pichardo appears by name in at least five reviews spanning 2016 through 2025 and is consistently described as responsive, hands-on, and willing to work after hours. Nancy S. specifically praised Raphael and his crews for taking a flooded basement from disaster to better-than-before. Emerald M. noted Rafael came after hours during a stressful flood situation. Multiple reviewers mention fast response times, with several describing same-day or within-the-hour arrival. Insurance coordination also comes up repeatedly — Finn noted that their insurance company complimented how easy the crew was to work with. Lynn Z., a repeat customer, mentioned using them for emergency water issues, basement flooring, and a kitchen remodel.
0 found across 25 total reviews at 4.7★. No complaints at 3 stars or below have appeared in the last 18 months. The review record across 25 total reviews at 4.7 stars is clean in the recent window.
Nearly every review describes water damage or flood restoration — not mold specifically. One older review from Bridget Z. (2018) describes mold remediation after health symptoms. The company appears to get most of its mold work as a secondary service following water damage, rather than as standalone mold jobs. This is worth knowing if you need mold-only work: their track record is strongest on the water side.
Raphael/Rafael Pichardo (VP of Operations — positive across multiple reviews spanning years). Alex, Manny, Hugo (crew members — positive, named in one review for basement flood work). Jorge Rodriguez (crew member — positive, named in one review for detail-oriented work).
Ask for Raphael when you call — he is clearly the face of the operation and reviewers consistently describe him as responsive and hands-on. The absence of recent negatives is a good sign, though the small review count means the sample is limited. If you need mold remediation specifically, ask about their inspection process and whether they recommend an independent tester.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. A company that finds the mold and then profits from removing it has a financial incentive to find more. Consider getting an independent inspection before authorizing remediation work.
- With only 25 Google reviews over roughly 8 years of presence, the review volume is thin. The 4.7-star rating is solid but based on a small sample — one or two bad experiences could shift it meaningfully.
- Their website claims a 45-minute emergency response time, but reviews do not specifically confirm that number. Ask for a realistic arrival window when you call.