Provider profile
ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Greater Pittsburgh homeowners dealing with water damage that has turned into mold, where a single company with 60+ employees and a 45,000 sq ft facility can handle mitigation through reconstruction.
Best for
- Homeowners in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, or Washington County who need mold remediation tied to recent water damage.
- Commercial property managers needing a single company to handle water extraction, mold removal, and rebuild without juggling subcontractors.
- Situations where mold grew after an insurance delay or slow leak and the job needs moisture source identification with thermal imaging.
- Sewage backups or biohazard situations requiring deodorization and microbial cleanup in addition to structural drying.
About this company
ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh is a full-service restoration franchise based in Oakmont, PA, serving five Western Pennsylvania counties. They are the oldest and largest ServiceMaster Restore franchise in the region, operating since 1981 when John Samek and two partners purchased and relaunched the business from a garage in Penn Hills. They now run over 60 employees out of a 45,000 square foot facility on Allegheny Avenue.
What stands out is the breadth of in-house capability. They handle the full disaster cycle: emergency water extraction, drying, mold remediation, fire and smoke restoration, contents cleaning, and reconstruction, all under one roof. They also do MRSA/C-Diff and microbial cleanup, hoarding cleanouts, and specialty deodorization. Their mold process uses moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the source, then anti-microbial agents for treatment. They offer to refer third-party environmental hygienists when testing warrants it, though they also do their own inspections.
The franchise has deep roots in the Pittsburgh area. Samek has run the operation for over 40 years. The company survived its own fire when a neighboring business caused a blaze that destroyed their shared office and warehouse, forcing the team into unheated trailers for three months before rebuilding. They have also deployed for disaster recovery in Florida, New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, and Michigan.
At 4.8 stars across 388 Google reviews, this is an unusually strong rating for a restoration company at this volume. Most companies this size accumulate more friction from insurance disputes and project complexity. Only one review at 3 stars or below appeared in the last 18 months.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 745 Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont, PA. Serves Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, and Washington Counties in Western Pennsylvania. The mold remediation page names specific coverage from Prospect to Jefferson Borough, Bavington to Vandergrift, and Charleroi to Harrison City to Frankfort Springs.
Review consensus
Don Gould is the most frequently named employee, praised across mold remediation, sewage cleanup, water mitigation, and general restoration work. Reviewers describe him as detail-oriented, honest (one noted he proactively reported accidentally removing their shop vac), and thorough. Quentin (also spelled Quinton) draws praise for communication during stressful water damage situations. Matt is named for both project management and hands-on repair work. Dan Bishop is praised for storm damage restoration and persistence in getting things right. Joe, Tyler, Logan, and Chris also appear in multiple positive reviews. Reviewers consistently highlight fast response times, clear communication, and respectful treatment of their homes.
1 found across 388 total reviews at 4.8★. One complaint from a Local Guide with 31 reviews: the company responded to an emergency, performed demolition, but then went silent when the homeowner needed repairs completed. The owner's response confirmed the GM was personally involved in resolving it. No other negative reviews appeared in the 18-month window.
The single negative review touches a structural risk common to restoration companies: the emergency mitigation team and the reconstruction team may operate on different timelines. Multiple positive reviewers mention smooth handoffs from mitigation to repair, suggesting this is not a systemic failure but the risk exists. The owner responded to the one negative review with specifics rather than a template, naming the GM and confirming ongoing contact.
Don Gould (field lead — consistently positive, named in mold, sewage, water mitigation, and cleanup). Matt (project manager/crew lead — positive). Quentin/Quinton (water mitigation lead — positive). Dan Bishop (restoration project lead — positive). Joe (field tech — positive). Tyler (field tech — positive). Logan (repair crew — positive). Chris (field tech — positive). Toby (field tech — positive). Mark (field tech — positive). Cody (field tech — positive). Hunter (remediation team — positive). Jesse (field tech — positive). Michael R. (field tech — positive). Brian (restoration — positive). Rob (restoration — positive). John Samek/Johnny (GM/owner — positive). John Larry (staff — positive). John Sandor (project coordinator — positive). Daryl Butler (project coordinator — positive). Sean (field tech — positive). Will (field tech — positive). Sylvester (field tech — positive).
This is a large, well-established franchise with strong review volume and an unusually high rating. Don Gould is the standout for mold and cleanup work. The one recent concern is about follow-through from demo to reconstruction, so pin down the repair timeline and your single point of contact before signing.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold inspection and mold remediation. A company that finds mold and then charges to remove it has a financial incentive to find more. Ask whether they will accept a third-party inspector's scope of work, or request their own referral to an independent hygienist.
- One recent reviewer reported that the company tore out damaged materials but then stopped responding when it was time for repairs. The owner's response confirmed the GM was in contact, but the pattern of demo-then-delay is worth asking about up front: get the full timeline for reconstruction in writing before work begins.
- They are a franchise operation. The ServiceMaster brand is national, but this location is independently owned and operated. Quality depends on this specific franchise's team, not the brand.
- Their claimed service area spans five counties across Western Pennsylvania. For locations at the edges of that range, confirm response times and whether the same crews handle the full project.