Provider profile
1-800 Water Damage of Royal Oak / Sterling Heights
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Warren and Sterling Heights homeowners who want an owner-operator — Rowland Crosby personally handles most calls and has turned away paying work when the fix was simple enough for the homeowner.
Best for
- Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, or Royal Oak homeowners dealing with water damage that led to mold growth — this company handles both problems in one call.
- Homeowners who want the business owner on-site doing the work, not a rotating crew of technicians.
- Basement flooding emergencies where same-day or same-night response matters — multiple reviewers confirm Rowland arrived within hours, including late evenings and weekends.
- Commercial property managers in the Sterling Heights area needing restoration for condos, offices, or apartment buildings.
- Budget-conscious homeowners — several reviewers report Rowland gave free consultations and recommended DIY fixes when the problem was small enough.
About this company
1-800 Water Damage of Royal Oak / Sterling Heights operates out of Warren, Michigan, and covers Sterling Heights, Troy, Royal Oak, and surrounding communities. It runs under the national 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise (owned by Belfor Franchise Group), but this location functions like a small owner-operated shop. Rowland Crosby runs the business, answers calls personally, and regularly works jobs himself — sometimes arriving within 15 minutes and staying past midnight.
Mold work here sits inside a broader water damage and restoration operation. The website describes assessment, containment, dehumidification, air filtration, removal of affected materials like drywall, and post-remediation restoration. They also handle water extraction, sewage cleanup, fire and smoke damage, and commercial properties including condos and apartment complexes. Nothing on the website points to unusual equipment or methods specific to mold — the mold service reads like a standard offering within their larger water damage playbook.
The franchise itself has 96 locations nationally, but this location's identity is built almost entirely around Crosby. Multiple reviewers mention he gave free consultations and walked them through DIY fixes rather than charging for minor work. One reviewer notes meeting him through the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce. The contact email on the website is roland.crosby@1800waterdamage.com.
4.8 stars across 94 Google reviews is unusually strong, especially given that only one review in the last 18 months falls below 4 stars. That single 2-star review contains no text, and the owner responded saying he cannot identify the reviewer. The volume is modest, but the consistency is notable — the vast majority of reviews specifically name Rowland and describe personal, hands-on service.
Services
Service area
Based in Warren, Michigan at 32494 Dequindre Rd. Serves Sterling Heights, Troy, Royal Oak, and surrounding areas in Oakland and Macomb counties. The franchise brand has 96 locations nationally, but this location's service radius is not precisely defined on the website.
Review consensus
Rowland Crosby is named in the majority of reviews. Reviewers consistently praise three things: speed (same-day arrivals, late-night and weekend availability, one reviewer reports a 15-minute response on a Friday night), honesty (multiple reviewers say he advised them on DIY fixes instead of charging, one notes he gave a free consultation), and personal attention (he returns to check progress, explains what he is doing, and stays until the job is done). Justin drew praise for daily check-ins during a leak repair. Elie was mentioned alongside Rowland for a flooded basement job. Several reviewers describe Rowland as calm and reassuring during stressful emergencies.
1 found across 94 total reviews at 4.8★. The sole recent negative is a 2-star review from Eric Bradbury (July 2025), a Local Guide with 59 reviews. The review contains no text — just the rating. The owner responded two weeks later saying he cannot identify the reviewer and suspects a wrong-business mistake. With no complaint details and the owner's factual pushback, this review carries minimal diagnostic weight.
The review pattern reveals a company built entirely around one person. Rowland Crosby appears by name in the vast majority of reviews spanning five years. Only three other staff — Justin, Elie, and Ron — appear once each. This is both the strength (consistent personal service) and the vulnerability (capacity is limited to one person's availability). The owner responds to negative reviews with specific factual context rather than templates, though the sample size is too small to call it a pattern.
Rowland Crosby (owner/operator — overwhelmingly positive across dozens of reviews, praised for speed, honesty, and hands-on work). Justin (technician — positive, praised for daily check-ins and responsiveness on a leak repair). Elie (crew member — positive, mentioned working alongside Rowland on a flooded basement). Ron (crew member — positive, praised for same-day service).
If you hire this company, you are hiring Rowland Crosby. Ask whether he will personally handle your mold job or delegate it. Get an independent mold test before agreeing to remediation work, since they do both. The track record on water damage and responsiveness is strong, but confirm their specific mold remediation process and credentials before booking.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation, which creates a conflict of interest. The same company diagnosing the problem also profits from fixing it. Ask for an independent third-party test before committing to remediation work.
- This is a franchise location under a national brand, but it operates like a one-person shop. If Rowland Crosby is unavailable — sick, on vacation, handling another job — it is unclear who steps in. Only two other staff names appear across 94 reviews.
- The mold remediation page on their website is a generic national page, not specific to this location. It does not detail this franchise's specific methods, equipment, or mold-related credentials.
- Water damage restoration is the primary business. Mold remediation is one service among many, not the focus. If you need a company that specializes exclusively in mold, this is not it.