Provider profile
Jenkins Restorations
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Hampton Roads homeowners dealing with water or fire damage who want a single company to handle mitigation, mold remediation, and full reconstruction under one insurance claim.
Best for
- Hampton Roads homeowners whose insurance company recommends a restoration contractor after water, fire, or storm damage.
- Property owners who want one company to handle everything from emergency water extraction through final reconstruction, avoiding the hassle of coordinating multiple contractors.
- Landlords or out-of-state property owners who need a project manager to coordinate repairs remotely, as several reviewers praised communication during long-distance projects.
- Commercial property managers needing 24/7 emergency response for water damage with insurance-friendly documentation.
- Homeowners dealing with mold that developed after water damage, where the remediation and structural repair can happen as a single project.
About this company
Jenkins Restorations operates out of Chesapeake and serves the entire Hampton Roads area, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk, and Newport News. Founded in 1975 in McLean, Virginia, the company has grown into a national operation with 24 offices. Mold work runs through a subsidiary called Jenkins Environmental Services, which handles remediation, forensic cleaning, biohazard cleanup, and odor removal.
The mold remediation side uses moisture meters, infrared cameras, and hygrometers for assessment. Removal methods include HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial treatments, soda blasting, and dry ice blasting for embedded growth. They set up containment zones with negative air pressure and run HEPA air scrubbers during the work. Dehumidifiers and hydroxyl generators round out the equipment list. The real differentiator is that they handle the full cycle: mitigation, mold removal, and reconstruction all under one roof.
The company became employee-owned through an ESOP in 2020. They started as a church and school builder, shifted to insurance restoration in the 1980s, and added water mitigation in 2007. The Chesapeake office opened in 2003. Many customers arrive through insurance company referrals, and the company works directly with adjusters on documentation and claims.
With 154 Google reviews and a 4.6-star rating, the company earns strong marks overall. Most positive reviews specifically name their project manager and describe multi-week or multi-month rebuilds that went smoothly. The volume of named-staff praise across different time periods suggests consistent hiring rather than a single standout employee.
Services
Service area
Jenkins Restorations operates from a Chesapeake, Virginia office at 533 Byron Street. They serve Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Chesapeake, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and Elizabeth City, NC. This is a branch of a national company headquartered in Chantilly, VA with 24 locations across the country.
Review consensus
Project managers John Clodfelter, Vance Van Horn, James Farris, and James get the most frequent praise, each appearing in multiple reviews spanning months. Reviewers consistently highlight clear communication, willingness to explain the process, and coordination with insurance companies. On the field side, Tyler Wilhelm and Heather Hawthorne are named together in at least six reviews for water mitigation work, praised for showing up quickly, explaining what they were doing, and cleaning up thoroughly. DJ Isaacs, Eric, Juan, Chris Laskin, Gene, Chuck Labucki, and Steve Walters also receive individual praise. Several reviewers describe multi-month full-home rebuilds after fires or major water events and say the finished result exceeded their expectations. Fast emergency response is a recurring theme, with multiple reviewers reporting crews on-site within hours.
4 found across 154 total reviews at 4.6★. Jeff (August 2025) hired Jenkins for mold remediation in a coat closet. Two gaps causing the mold were supposed to be sealed during the work, but he later learned they were only temporarily sealed. Mold returned within a month. The project manager failed to return calls or emails to schedule a follow-up. Rose Knight (September 2025, single-review account) described unfinished work, debris and personal belongings of workers left at the home, and staff quitting mid-project. Tricia R (February 2025, Local Guide with 16 reviews) said Jenkins subcontracted the work, assigned inexperienced project managers who did not understand construction codes, and that she had to replace all of their repairs. John McDonough (April 2026) discovered shoddy workmanship three years after a water damage repair, finding flaws throughout the kitchen and living space rebuild, including unpainted trim that was never finished.
The negative reviews cluster around a specific failure mode: the initial response and project manager assignment go well, but the actual repair work done by subcontractors falls short. Three of the four detailed complaints describe workmanship problems with the rebuild phase rather than the mitigation phase. The company does not respond to any negative reviews publicly, which is unusual for a company of this size and suggests either a policy gap or a deliberate choice not to engage with criticism online.
John Clodfelter (project manager — praised repeatedly for communication and detail). Vance Van Horn (project manager — praised for patience, communication, and finishing ahead of schedule). James Farris (project manager — praised for understanding and support during kitchen rebuild). Tyler Wilhelm (mitigation technician — praised in many reviews for fast response and clear communication). Heather Hawthorne (mitigation technician — praised alongside Tyler in multiple reviews). DJ Isaacs (mitigation technician — praised for prompt, courteous work). Chris Laskin (role unclear — praised for helpfulness). Chris Page (role unclear — praised for collaboration). Steve Walters (contractor — praised for fire damage restoration work). Chuck Labucki (contractor — praised alongside Steve for fire rebuild). Gene (repairs — praised for cabinet and painting work). Eric (crew — praised for attention to detail). Juan (crew — praised for quality work). Brian (estimator/PM — praised for guiding fire damage process). Greg Scoles (project manager — praised for organization). Mark (crew lead — praised for pipe burst renovation). Zach (crew — praised alongside Mark). Jake (team lead — praised by rallie Jones). Mario (contractor — praised for car-into-house repairs). Brandon (crew — praised for availability and efficiency). MJ (mitigation tech — praised for thoroughness). Von/Voni (mitigation tech — praised for professionalism).
Ask for John Clodfelter or Vance Van Horn as your project manager if you can. The mitigation side of this company consistently earns praise, but the reconstruction phase is where problems surface. Get specifics in writing about what repairs are permanent, who will perform the work, and whether the crew will be Jenkins employees or subcontractors.
Keep in mind
- Jenkins both tests for mold and performs remediation through its subsidiary Jenkins Environmental Services. This creates a financial incentive to find problems they can then bill to fix. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation services.
- The company relies heavily on subcontractors for repair work. Multiple negative reviews cite subcontractor quality issues, and one reviewer noted staff turnover mid-project. Ask who will do the actual work and whether they are Jenkins employees or subs.
- No owner responses appear on any of the recent negative reviews. When customers report problems, the company does not engage publicly, which makes it harder to judge how they handle complaints.
- This is a national company with 24 offices. The Chesapeake location is one branch. Your experience depends on which project manager and crew get assigned to your job.
- One reviewer hired Jenkins for mold remediation and discovered gaps were only temporarily sealed, leading to mold recurrence. Confirm in writing what work is permanent versus temporary before the job starts.