Provider profile
Restoration 1 of Waukegan
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Waukegan and Lake County homeowners dealing with water damage or mold who want a single contractor to handle mitigation through full reconstruction.
Best for
- Lake County IL and Kenosha County WI homeowners who need emergency water damage response with same-day arrival.
- Property owners who want one company to handle mold remediation and the structural rebuild afterward, avoiding handoffs between contractors.
- Real estate agents and property managers who need fast turnaround on mold or water issues tied to closings or tenant timelines.
- Commercial property owners in the Waukegan-Kenosha corridor dealing with flood, fire, or biohazard situations.
About this company
Restoration 1 of Waukegan is a franchise location of the national Restoration 1 brand, based on North Delany Road in Waukegan, IL. They hold a general contractor license, which means they handle the full arc from emergency water extraction through structural rebuild — not just the mitigation step. Mold remediation is one of several service lines alongside water damage, fire damage, odor removal, and biohazard cleanup. They serve both residential and commercial properties.
What stands out here is the general contractor license. Most restoration companies stop at mitigation and hand off the rebuild to someone else. Restoration 1 of Waukegan keeps the whole project in-house, from drying and demolition through drywall, flooring, and paint. They also do mold inspection and remediation under the same roof, which is convenient but creates a conflict of interest you should understand before hiring them for testing. Their website references IICRC training for technicians and a partnership with insurance carriers to handle claims directly.
Leo Prozument runs the Waukegan franchise. He writes the company blog, responds to Google reviews personally, and shows up in dozens of customer reviews by name — often answering calls on holidays and arriving the same day. The operation covers Lake County IL and extends into Kenosha and Racine counties in Wisconsin. They hold a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador designation from NOAA.
381 Google reviews at a 5.0-star average is unusual for any service business. Only 3 reviews below 4 stars appeared in the last 18 months, and none of those contained a substantive complaint. That volume at that rating suggests a consistently positive customer experience, particularly around emergency responsiveness and communication.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Waukegan, IL. Serves Lake County IL including North Chicago, Zion, Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor, and Great Lakes. Also covers Kenosha County WI (Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Bristol, Salem Lakes) and parts of Racine County WI (Woodworth). One reviewer reported using them for a job in St. Charles, IL, about 50 miles southwest of Waukegan.
Review consensus
Leo is the most frequently named person across reviews — customers highlight his personal phone responsiveness, same-day or next-day site visits, and willingness to answer calls on holidays and weekends. Multiple reviewers note he showed up within hours of a call. Miguel is praised for mold knowledge and trustworthiness. James drew praise for urgent 4 a.m. response and attention to detail. JJ is named for hard work and quick arrival. Several reviewers mention honest pricing: one customer (Carl Winter) reported that Leo declined to charge them for unnecessary work and complimented their own mitigation efforts instead. Real estate agents and insurance partners appear among the reviewers, citing reliable communication and timely turnaround.
2 found across 381 total reviews at 5★. The two 1-star reviews do not contain customer complaints. One (Miguel Vargas) has no review text, and the owner responded with 'good to have you part of our team,' indicating this is likely an employee. The other (Luis Vargas, single-review account) actually praises Miguel Vargas for mold removal knowledge — it reads as a misplaced positive review or a rating error. The lone 3-star review (Steven Medina) also has no text. None of the three sub-4-star reviews describe a negative customer experience.
The absence of genuine negative reviews is itself notable. Two of the three sub-4-star reviews appear to be from people connected to the company (an employee and someone praising an employee by name from a single-review account). The cluster of 5-star reviews from October 18, 2025 — many with minimal text and some from low-review-count accounts — suggests a possible review solicitation event, though this is common for franchise businesses and does not invalidate the substantive positive reviews from customers who describe real service experiences. Leo responds to reviews personally rather than using templates.
Leo (owner — praised in 20+ reviews for responsiveness, honesty, and personal involvement). Miguel (business development — praised for mold knowledge, trustworthiness, and friendliness). James (technician — praised for urgent response and attention to detail). JJ (technician — praised for hard work and fast arrival).
With 381 reviews at 5.0 stars and zero substantive complaints in the last 18 months, the review record is unusually clean. Ask for Leo by name when you call — he is the person most reviewers credit for the experience. If you need mold work, get a separate inspection first, then bring their quote to compare.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. The company that finds the mold profits from fixing it. Consider getting an independent mold inspection before committing to their remediation work.
- This is a franchise of a national brand. The local operation is owner-operated by Leo Prozument, but corporate franchise standards and pricing structures apply.
- Their service area spans three counties across two states (Lake County IL, Kenosha County WI, Racine County WI). Confirm response time for locations on the edges of that footprint.
- Mold remediation is one of several service lines, not their sole focus. Their primary volume comes from water and fire damage work.