Provider profile
SERVPRO of South Durham
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Durham and Orange County homeowners dealing with water-triggered mold who want a single SERVPRO franchise handling remediation through reconstruction under one project manager.
Best for
- Durham and Orange County residents who discover mold after a water leak and want one company to handle remediation and the rebuild.
- Homeowners filing insurance claims who want a company with preferred-vendor status at national carriers and experience navigating the claims process.
- Commercial property managers in the Triangle who need 24/7 emergency response for water or mold events.
- Buyers who want a named project manager as a single point of contact throughout the job.
About this company
SERVPRO of South Durham is a restoration franchise covering Durham County and Orange County, owned by Christopher G. Reda and Joseph A. Parker II. They operate out of 607 Ellis Rd in Durham and have held this franchise since 2000. Mold remediation is one piece of a larger operation that also handles water damage, fire damage, storm damage, sewage cleanup, and full reconstruction.
Their mold page mentions air scrubbers, hydroxyl generators, and HEPA vacuums. The team holds IICRC certifications in water damage restoration, fire and smoke restoration, applied structural drying, and mold remediation. They also carry a North Carolina general contractor license (86853), which means they can tear out damaged materials and rebuild in-house rather than handing you off to a separate contractor.
The franchise is active in local business networks: Durham Chamber of Commerce, Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber, Orange County/Hillsborough Chamber, Chapel Hill and Durham realtor associations, Home Builders Association of Durham/Orange/Chatham, Indoor Air Quality Association, and Restoration Industry Association. They partner with NCCU and Carolina Athletics. They list preferred-vendor status with multiple national insurance carriers.
4.7 stars across 188 Google reviews is solid for a restoration company. The volume skews heavily toward water damage and reconstruction work rather than mold-specific jobs, but several reviewers mention mold remediation directly and report satisfaction.
Services
Service area
Based in Durham, NC at 607 Ellis Rd. Serves Durham County and Orange County, including Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and surrounding areas. One reviewer in Clayton and another in Holly Springs used this franchise, suggesting they take jobs outside their core territory.
Review consensus
Mike St John dominates the positive reviews. At least 15 reviewers name him as their reconstruction project manager and praise his communication, scheduling, and follow-through. Christian Cruz gets similar treatment from 2024 reviewers, described as responsive and knowledgeable. Nelson Malave earned praise for keeping clients updated daily. Russ draws multiple mentions for punctuality and patience. Anthony, Trea Turney, and Manuel each receive strong marks from individual jobs. Reviewers consistently highlight fast initial response, clear communication about each step of the process, and smooth insurance coordination.
2 found across 188 total reviews at 4.7★. Chris Boyd (1 star, August 2025) describes flooring installed two years prior after a water event that continues to push up at joints and separate. He reports the crew used cardboard pieces from flooring boxes to level the floor. He says the company does not respond to follow-up concerns. The owner replied with a generic email invitation. Greg (2 stars, February 2025) describes a detailed reconstruction failure: wrong ceiling color, paint drips on hardwood floors, missed areas, a crew member who left mid-job citing payroll issues, and charges for work not performed (mirror removal). The owner acknowledged the issues and invited further discussion, noting they believed the customer was satisfied after a second walk-through.
Both complaints target the reconstruction phase, not the initial remediation or water extraction. The pattern suggests a gap between the strong remediation/mitigation teams and the subcontracted reconstruction crews. The owner responds to every negative review, but both responses default to inviting email contact rather than engaging with specifics in the review itself.
Mike St John (project manager, reconstruction - praised in 15+ reviews). Christian Cruz (project manager, reconstruction - praised in 6+ reviews). Nelson Malave (project manager - praised for daily updates). Russ (field team - praised for punctuality and patience in 5+ reviews). Manuel (reconstruction crew - praised for quality work). Alejandro/Alex (tile and reconstruction - praised for craftsmanship). Anthony (mitigation/mold - praised for communication and work ethic). Trea Turney (project manager - praised for mold remediation). Jonny (mitigation - praised for emergency response). Charles (field team - praised for courtesy). Jared Ray (field - praised for responsiveness). Rafael Domagala (field - praised for responsiveness). Bobby (field - praised for calming presence). Edgar (field - praised). Javier (field - praised for speed). Daniel (field - positive mention). Patrick (field - positive mention). Hoth (field - positive mention). Keygan (field - praised for detail). Mitch (field - praised). Allen (field - praised for flood response). Jake (field - praised). Matt/Matthew Gurczynski (reconstruction PM - praised). Walter (mitigation - praised). Devin Underwood (field - praised). Joe (reconstruction - praised for communication). Warren (mitigation - praised). Kalib Banks (estimator - praised). Irene (coordination - praised). Gino (field - praised). Brad (owner - praised in one review). Jim McNeely (team leader - praised by insurance agent).
Ask for Mike St John as your project manager if your job involves reconstruction. His name appears in more positive reviews than anyone else at this franchise. Watch the reconstruction phase closely: both negative reviews describe finish-work failures, so do a detailed walk-through before signing off and verify every line item on your scope of work was actually completed.
Keep in mind
- Both recent negative reviews (1 of 188 at 1 star, 1 at 2 stars) describe problems with reconstruction quality, not remediation. One reviewer reported flooring installed with cardboard shims; another described a paint job with wrong colors, drips on hardwood, and missed ceilings. If your job includes reconstruction, inspect the finish work closely before signing off.
- This is a franchise operation. The people who show up for remediation may differ from the reconstruction crew, and subcontractors do some of the rebuild work. Ask who specifically will do your job.
- Most of the review volume focuses on water damage restoration. Mold-specific reviews exist but are fewer. If your situation is mold without a preceding water event, ask about their mold-only experience.
- The 2-star reviewer reported being charged for mirror removal/reinstallation that was never performed. Review your scope of work line by line before and after the job.
- They serve a wide area including Durham, Orange, and surrounding counties. Confirm your address falls within their primary service zone and ask about response time for your location.