Provider profile
SERVPRO of Lexington and West Cayce
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Lexington and West Columbia homeowners dealing with water damage that has turned into a mold problem, where the same crew can handle extraction, remediation, and rebuild under one contract.
Best for
- Lexington, West Columbia, and Cayce homeowners who need mold remediation tied to a water damage event, since this crew handles both under one scope of work.
- Property managers with rental units in Lexington County who need a single company to extract water, remediate mold, and reconstruct drywall and finishes.
- Commercial property owners in the Midlands who need a franchise with multi-location resources and 24/7 availability for after-hours emergencies.
- Homeowners who want their insurance claims process managed by the restoration company, since SERVPRO coordinates documentation and paperwork directly with carriers.
- Buyers in the Batesburg-Leesville and Swansea corridor who have fewer local restoration options and need a company willing to travel to rural Lexington County.
About this company
SERVPRO of Lexington and West Cayce is a restoration franchise based in West Columbia, South Carolina, serving the Lexington County corridor from Cayce through Batesburg-Leesville. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader operation that covers water damage, fire damage, storm recovery, sewage cleanup, and full reconstruction. Penny Benkeser and J. Daniel Cox own this franchise along with several others across Charlotte and the Carolinas.
The mold page describes a seven-step process: containment, air filtration with HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers, antimicrobial treatment, removal of infested materials, and rebuild. They hold an AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) credential alongside water and fire restoration certifications. Media blasting is listed as a removal technique for mold, fire, and smoke damage, which is less common among SERVPRO franchises. They also offer packout and contents storage at their own facility.
The franchise opened in May 2012 and claims over 25 years of industry experience across its ownership group. They are veteran owned. Multiple Top 100 SERVPRO awards and Charlotte Business Journal recognition suggest consistent volume across their franchise network.
4.8 stars across 56 Google reviews is strong for a restoration company. The review volume skews toward water damage work rather than mold-specific jobs, but several reviewers mention mold remediation directly and praise the speed of the turnaround.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in West Columbia, South Carolina at 1831 Pine Street. Covers Lexington, Cayce, West Columbia, Batesburg-Leesville, Springdale, Red Bank, South Congaree, Gaston, Swansea, Pelion, and surrounding Lexington County communities. The listed service area spans 19 towns, some of which are quite small and rural.
Review consensus
Speed of response comes up more than anything else. Multiple reviewers describe same-day or next-morning arrival after water emergencies, including weekends and late nights. Taylor, who managed projects under the prior ownership, drew loyal repeat customers. Under the current team, Joseph stands out across four separate reviews for explaining processes clearly and keeping stress levels low. Austin runs projects with a crew that includes Mckayla, Charles, Jakob, and Decarlo, and one reviewer specifically praised how the team handled a midnight hot water heater call. Peter earned recent praise for patience during a 2026 flooding situation. Several reviewers mention the crew going above and beyond their job scope, like helping a neighbor with a burst toilet.
1 found across 56 total reviews at 4.8★. One complaint from a customer who worked with the prior franchise owner and returned four years later to find the new owners had no records of his previous job. The owner responded confirming that records from prior management did not transfer with the business acquisition and directed the customer to call corporate. This is an ownership-transition issue, not a service quality complaint.
The review timeline tells an interesting story. Older reviews (2017-2022) consistently mention Taylor as the point of contact. Newer reviews (2025-2026) mention Joseph, Austin, Peter, and different field crews. This aligns with the ownership change flagged in the 1-star review. The current team has maintained the same high rating, but the company the earlier reviewers praised is not the same organization operating today. The single owner response in the negative reviews is personalized and factual rather than a template deflection.
Peter (field — praised for patience and handling flooding), Josh (field — praised alongside Peter for catastrophe response), Austin (project manager — praised for honesty and midnight emergency response), Mckayla (crew — praised as part of Austin's team), Charles (crew — praised on multiple jobs including with Dre), Jakob (crew — praised as part of Austin's team), Decarlo (crew — praised as polite and informative), Joseph (field — praised across four reviews for clear explanations and courtesy), Arty (field — praised for plumbing leak response), Dre Jefferson (crew — praised for knowledge and kindness), Kenny (field — praised for helpfulness), Jawan (field — praised for professionalism across two reviews), Gilbert H. (technician — praised for mitigation work), Twist D. (technician — praised for mitigation work), Taylor (project manager, prior ownership era — praised across many reviews for responsiveness), Clay (crew, prior era — praised for follow-through), Sam (crew, prior era — praised alongside Clay), Mike (field, prior era — praised for honest mold assessment), Darrell (field — praised for responsiveness with rental properties), Trey (field — praised alongside Taylor), Tia (field — praised for pipe burst response), Richard (field — praised for pipe burst response).
Ask for Joseph or Austin if you want the field lead most consistently praised under the current ownership. Confirm in writing what records the company will keep and for how long, given the prior records-transfer gap. If mold is your issue, get an independent test first, then bring the results to SERVPRO for a remediation quote.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. That means the same company identifying the problem also profits from fixing it. Get an independent mold assessment before signing a remediation contract.
- This franchise changed hands. The current owners acquired the business from a prior operator, and records from previous work did not transfer. If you had work done before the ownership change, the current team has no access to those files.
- The service area lists 19 towns across Lexington County and beyond. Response times to outlying areas like Batesburg-Leesville, Swansea, or Pelion may differ from the core West Columbia zone.
- Most of the Google reviews describe water damage and fire restoration work. Mold-specific reviews are limited, so the strong 4.8 rating reflects the broader operation more than mold remediation alone.
- As a SERVPRO franchise, pricing and processes follow the national brand framework. Local flexibility on scope or methods may be limited compared to independent operators.