Provider profile
Paul Davis Restoration of Duluth MN / Superior WI
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Duluth-Superior homeowners dealing with water, fire, or mold damage who want a single franchise handling mitigation through full reconstruction under one contract.
Best for
- Homeowners in the Duluth-Superior metro who need emergency water extraction or mold cleanup with same-day response.
- Property owners dealing with fire or storm damage who want one company to handle everything from mitigation through full rebuild.
- Commercial property managers and apartment complexes needing large-loss restoration with insurance coordination.
- Anyone navigating an insurance claim for property damage who wants the restoration company to handle adjuster communication directly.
About this company
Paul Davis Restoration of the Northland is a franchise operation based in Superior, WI, serving the Duluth-Superior metro and a wide stretch of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Mold is one piece of a much larger operation: they handle water damage, fire and smoke restoration, storm damage, biohazard cleanup, content restoration, and full reconstruction. They do both residential and commercial work, including large-loss projects for apartment complexes and office buildings.
On the mold side, they claim IICRC and ACAC credentials for their remediation staff, and their website references HEPA filtration and antimicrobial treatments. They also offer mold testing, which means they both diagnose and fix the problem (more on that in Keep in Mind). Their water damage page mentions moisture meters and infrared cameras for detection. The 24/7 emergency availability with a stated 30-minute response window is a franchise-wide standard, not unique to this location.
This franchise has operated in Superior for more than 58 years. Paul Davis as a national brand was founded in 1966 and has over 300 locations. This particular office holds General Contractor License BC639778 and carries a GSA contract, meaning they do federal government work as well.
4.8 stars across 74 Google reviews is a strong rating. The overwhelming majority of reviewers highlight quick response times and clear communication from named project managers. Only one review in the last 18 months falls at or below 3 stars, though it describes a seriously negative experience.
Services
Service area
Based in Superior, WI, serving Duluth, MN and the broader Northland region. Review evidence confirms work in Superior, Duluth, Hermantown, Cloquet, Esko, South Range, Lake Nebagamon, Solon Springs, Hayward, Ashland, Iron River, Ironwood (MI), Bessemer (MI), Virginia (MN), Hibbing, and other communities across northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Some distant locations may only get mitigation, not full reconstruction.
Review consensus
Brad is the most frequently named staff member across reviews, praised for communication, patience, and going above and beyond on reconstruction projects. Micah draws consistent praise as a project manager for keeping homeowners informed throughout long restoration processes. Don is highlighted for quick response on water and mold jobs and for explaining the process clearly. Nick gets credit for working with insurance companies directly. Amanda is praised for careful content documentation during fire cleanups. Drew Sonota is called out for speed and workmanship on mitigation. Across the board, reviewers emphasize fast initial response, clear communication at each step, and respectful behavior in their homes.
1 found across 74 total reviews at 4.8★. The single recent negative alleges that the contents team contracted by Paul Davis stole items of monetary value, left doors open and faucets running at an unoccupied fire-damaged home, failed to mitigate the actual fire area, and left the house uninhabitable due to chemical residue. The reviewer also claims no permits were pulled. The company did not respond to this review.
The franchise model creates a split between the local Paul Davis team (Brad, Micah, Don, Nick) and outside contractors or CAT teams brought in for overflow. Multiple testimonials on the company website describe friction when outside crews replaced expected local staff, including language barriers and incomplete work that local managers then had to fix. The 0% owner response rate on the single recent negative is notable for a franchise with corporate reputation management resources.
Brad (project manager/contractor -- consistently positive across many reviews for communication, patience, and quality work). Micah (project manager -- positive for keeping clients informed and explaining processes). Don/Don Severson (field technician -- positive for quick response and clear explanations). Nick/Nick Seifert (project manager -- positive for insurance coordination and responsiveness). Amanda (content specialist -- positive for attention to detail during fire content documentation). Drew/Drew Sonota (technician -- positive for speed and workmanship). Josh (manager/project lead -- positive for communication). Tony (crew member -- positive, mentioned alongside Brad). MJ (contractor -- positive for tile work quality and professionalism). Jeff (technician -- positive, mentioned with Nick). Brian (crew member -- positive for detailed work). Patrick (contractor -- positive for drywall repair on large commercial job).
This is a well-reviewed franchise location with strong local project managers. Ask for Brad or Micah by name if your project involves reconstruction. For mold specifically, get an independent test first since they both test and remediate, and confirm upfront whether your job will be handled entirely by local staff or if outside crews will be involved.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. That means the same company telling you that you have a mold problem is the one getting paid to fix it. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation work.
- This is a franchise, not a locally owned independent company. Service quality depends on the local team, not the national brand. The franchise has strong local reviews, but corporate processes and subcontractors (like the CAT teams mentioned in testimonials) may not match local staff quality.
- One recent 1-star review alleges theft of contents, failure to pull permits, and health hazards from incomplete fire mitigation. The owner did not respond. With only 1 negative out of 74, this could be an outlier, but the severity of the claims and the lack of response are worth noting.
- Several testimonials mention communication gaps when projects transitioned between team members or when CAT (catastrophe) teams from outside the area were brought in. Ask upfront who your single point of contact will be throughout the project.
- Their service territory spans from Duluth, MN to Hayward, WI to Ironwood, MI. For locations at the edges, restoration work may be available but reconstruction has been declined for being too far or too small, as one reviewer experienced.