Provider profile
Encore RRC Inc
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Raleigh Triangle and Wilmington homeowners dealing with mold after water damage who want one company to handle extraction, remediation, and reconstruction under a single contract.
Best for
- Raleigh Triangle or Wilmington homeowners who need mold remediation tied to an active water damage event, where speed matters.
- Buyers who want a single contractor to manage water extraction, mold removal, and reconstruction without coordinating multiple companies.
- Property managers or multi-family communities that need 24/7 emergency response with insurance claim coordination.
- Homeowners facing storm or flood damage where mold prevention needs to start within 24-48 hours of the event.
- Buyers comfortable working primarily with the field team rather than the owner on day-to-day project management.
About this company
Encore RRC operates out of Garner, North Carolina (serving the Raleigh Triangle) with a second office in Wilmington. They handle the full chain from water extraction through mold remediation to structural reconstruction, plus fire damage, storm damage, biohazard cleanup, and home remodeling. The company claims 25 years of experience and also runs a separate plumbing business, Encore RRC Plumbing.
On the mold side, their website describes a six-step process: inspection and testing with moisture meters and infrared cameras, containment with negative air pressure, removal using HEPA vacuums and antimicrobial treatments, structural drying with dehumidifiers and air movers, sanitizing with air scrubbers, and repair of damaged materials. They handle both residential and commercial work and position themselves as a single-source contractor who can take a project from emergency response through finished reconstruction.
The company is locally owned by Michael Irelan, who reviewers refer to as Mike. They employ project managers, estimators, and field crews and advertise 24/7 emergency availability with same-day deployment.
At 4.4 stars across 45 Google reviews, the rating sits below the 4.5 threshold where most buyers feel comfortable. The positives are genuinely strong—multiple reviewers describe same-day arrivals and careful work—but the negatives raise questions about how the owner handles disputes.
Services
Service area
Encore RRC operates from two offices: Garner, NC (serving the Raleigh Triangle) and Wilmington, NC. Their website lists service counties including Wake, Durham, Chatham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, New Hanover, and Orange. That spans roughly 140 miles of central and coastal North Carolina—confirm crew availability for your specific location.
Review consensus
Field crews get strong marks for responsiveness and communication. Marco and Omar drew praise for tracking moisture levels and working around a homeowner's schedule. Patricia earned recognition from multiple reviewers for her organized, caring approach to contents pack-outs—one reviewer (Gina Borromeo, writing in Spanish) singled her out for personal attention from day one. Karl, the general manager, impressed a reviewer with his knowledge and efficiency during water mitigation. Several reviewers describe arrival times under two hours, including one (John Moyer) who had a crew show up within two hours of filing an insurance claim. Repeat customers exist—Brian Karim noted using Encore multiple times with consistent results.
3 found across 45 total reviews at 4.4★. Stacy Bodette (1-star, May 2025, Local Guide with 203 reviews) describes a renovation gone wrong: the owner promised personal involvement but delegated to a sales manager. She reports poor tile work requiring a second company, stolen personal items (bourbon, a purse), and the owner calling her a liar and swearing at her. She adds that years later the owner called to confirm the sales manager was indeed stealing and asked her to testify. Dane Hansen (1-star, May 2025, Local Guide with 102 reviews) left only a brief statement declining to recommend the company. Lisa (2-star, February 2026) praised Karl and Patricia by name but described owner Michael Irelan misrepresenting his plumbing licensure scope, arguing on the phone, hanging up mid-conversation, and threatening a lien via text. The pattern across these complaints centers on the owner rather than the field crews.
The negative reviews create a split-personality picture. Field staff—Marco, Patricia, Karl, Omar—earn consistent praise even from the reviewers giving low ratings. Lisa gave 2 stars specifically because of the owner while praising Karl and Patricia in the same review. The complaints cluster around owner Michael Irelan's conflict resolution style, not around the quality of the actual restoration work. The 0% owner response rate on recent negatives reinforces this: the company does not publicly address criticism. Buyers who interact primarily with project managers and crews may have a very different experience than those who deal directly with the owner on disputes or billing.
Michael Irelan / Mike (owner — praised by some for responsiveness, named in two negatives for hostile communication and dishonesty). Karl (general manager — positive, praised for knowledge and efficiency). Patricia (contents project manager — positive, praised repeatedly for organization and care). Marco (field technician — positive, praised for work ethic and communication). Omar (field technician — positive, praised for communication). Justin (field technician — positive, praised by multiple older reviews for professionalism). Tim (field technician — positive, praised for fast Sunday response). Ash (field technician — positive, praised for courtesy and speed). Troy Sessoms (field technician — positive, praised for reliable work). Chris Rourke (field technician — positive, praised for carpentry quality). Brayan (field technician — positive). Edward (field technician — positive). Hector (field technician — positive). John (field technician — positive). Allen (team member — positive).
The field crews at Encore RRC do good work and show up fast. Ask to have Karl or Patricia as your project point of contact and get all pricing, scope, and payment terms in writing before work begins. If a billing dispute arises, know that the recent review history suggests escalation with the owner can turn adversarial—document everything.
Keep in mind
- Encore RRC does both mold testing and mold remediation. A company that finds the mold and then sells you the removal has a financial incentive to find problems. Consider getting an independent inspection before committing to their remediation scope.
- Two of three recent negative reviews specifically name owner Michael Irelan for dismissive or hostile communication, including hanging up on a customer and threatening a lien. The owner has not responded to any of the three recent complaints.
- The 4.4-star rating across 45 reviews is below average for restoration companies in this market. The positives are real, but the negatives cluster around owner conduct rather than workmanship.
- Their service area spans Raleigh to Wilmington—roughly 140 miles apart. Confirm which office and crew would handle your project before signing.
- Zero owner responses on recent negative reviews. When a company does not engage publicly with complaints, you cannot gauge how they handle disputes before you experience one yourself.