Provider profile
Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling of Southeast Wisconsin
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Southeast Wisconsin homeowners and commercial property managers dealing with water damage, fire, or mold who want a large franchise operation with 24/7 response, in-house reconstruction, and insurance claims support.
Best for
- Homeowners in the Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, or Kenosha area who need mold remediation as part of a larger water or storm damage restoration project.
- Commercial property managers and condo associations needing a single company to handle mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction under one contract.
- Insurance-claim-driven projects where you want a company experienced in working directly with carriers and adjusters.
- Large-scale or multi-unit properties where the company's 110-person crew and 80-vehicle fleet can deploy quickly.
About this company
Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling of Southeast Wisconsin is a franchise operation headquartered in Waukesha, WI, with additional offices in Appleton and Waukegan, IL. Mold remediation is one piece of a much larger restoration business that covers water, fire, smoke, storm, and biohazard damage for both residential and commercial properties. They handle the full cycle from emergency mitigation through reconstruction and remodeling.
What stands out is the scale. Their Waukesha headquarters is a 100,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres, housing 110+ employees and 80 vehicles. They run an in-house construction division, a contents cleaning department, and a consulting arm. Their website states their water restoration staff are IICRC-certified. For mold work, they list remediation services including wall and flooring replacement, ventilation cleaning, caulk repair, and fabric recovery. They do not offer mold testing or inspection -- you will need a separate company for that.
The franchise was established in Milwaukee in 1990. In 2013, long-time employees Brady Chuckel, Jeff Hertel, and Tim Guilette took over as owners. The company has won BBB Torch Awards, CotY Remodeling Awards, and franchise-of-the-year recognition within the Paul Davis network. They completed their current headquarters in 2020.
At 4.7 stars across 740 Google reviews, the overall rating is solid for a restoration company of this size. Most of the recent negative reviews target the remodeling and reconstruction side of the business rather than mitigation or remediation work.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Waukesha, WI with a second office in Appleton, WI and a third in Waukegan, IL. The southeast Wisconsin territory covers Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, West Allis, Wauwatosa, New Berlin, Brookfield, Greenfield, Franklin, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, Cudahy, and West Bend. The Fox Valley territory includes Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Neenah, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Menasha. They also list northern Illinois coverage from the Waukegan office.
Review consensus
Speed of initial response is the most consistent theme. Multiple reviewers describe crews arriving within hours of a call, even late at night or on weekends. Named staff who draw repeated praise include Justin (project management, insurance paperwork), Mike and Mike Bolson (project management, estimates), Bradlee (crew lead), Derek and Rafael (mitigation), and Sydney (fire restoration coordination). The contents and laundry departments get specific callouts for careful handling of personal belongings. Several reviewers mention that the company advocated for them with insurance companies, helping get claims approved and processed.
2 found across 740 total reviews at 4.7★. Two 1-star reviews in the recent window describe very different problems. Scott Wells (Local Guide, 17 reviews) could not get the Waukesha office to return calls for reconstruction work after a flood handled by the Madison office -- two attempts, no callback. Abigail Boeker describes a mold remediation job where the crew broke containment on day one by shutting off negative pressure and leaving the zipper open before remediation was finished, contaminating the upper floors. She reports the crew removed only a portion of floor glue with mold underneath, and that project manager Derek refused to answer emails or provide contact info for a supervisor. The owner response notes a Certificate of Substantial Completion was signed and that the customer declined air quality testing, but does not directly address the containment breach allegation.
The split between mitigation praise and reconstruction complaints is structural. Paul Davis runs these as separate divisions with different crews and project managers. Reviewers who used only the mitigation side are overwhelmingly positive. Complaints concentrate on the remodeling and reconstruction unit -- missed timelines, quality control lapses, and poor follow-through. The owners (Jeff Hertel, Tim Guilette, Brady Chuckel) sign their responses to negative reviews by name, and the responses engage with specifics rather than using templates. However, at least one reviewer (Molly Nyary) reports that reaching out per the owner's suggestion resulted in another round of poor communication.
Justin (project manager -- positive, praised by multiple reviewers for insurance handling and communication). Mike (project manager -- positive). Mike Bolson (estimator -- positive, praised for honesty and care with elderly client). Bradlee (crew lead -- positive, praised for getting work done on time). Derek/Derick (mitigation lead -- mixed; praised by some for rapid response, cited by Abigail Boeker for refusing communication). Rafael (mitigation -- positive). Sydney (fire restoration coordinator -- positive). Anthony Heald (estimator -- positive, praised for after-hours service). Eric Schneider and Eric Markwald (project management -- positive). Nick (crew lead -- positive). Jorge (estimator -- positive, repeat client praise). Braedon Blackford (project coordination -- positive). Mike Paprocki (project coordination -- positive). Frank, Rey, James, Angel (crew members -- positive). Ryan T. (crew -- positive, competitive pricing noted). John Sanders (remodeling project manager -- negative, cited for poor communication, no-shows, and substandard work). A. McKae (scheduling/intake -- negative, cited for dropping a customer from the wait list). Moshe (former project manager -- positive, praised by a negative reviewer as having done great work previously). Brandon, Tyler Ramirez (project managers -- positive, praised for hands-on work). Joel, Chris (crew -- positive). Alex, Mark (project team -- positive). Brooks (team member -- positive). Manny P, Michelle G, Alejandra R, Erica P (crew -- positive).
For mold remediation specifically, ask who will manage your project and get that person's direct contact information before signing. If your job involves reconstruction after the remediation, get the timeline and scope in writing with checkpoints. The mitigation side of this operation runs well and responds fast, but the handoff to reconstruction is where things fall apart for some customers.
Keep in mind
- Communication breakdowns are a recurring theme in negative reviews. Multiple reviewers report unreturned calls and no-shows, sometimes after being told someone would contact them within 24-48 hours. Get a direct contact name and number for your project manager upfront.
- The reconstruction and remodeling division draws more complaints than the mitigation side. If your project involves rebuild work after remediation, set clear timelines in writing and establish a quality check process before final payment.
- They do not perform mold testing or inspection. You will need a separate, independent testing company to confirm the scope before remediation and to verify clearance afterward.
- Their service area spans from southeast Wisconsin through Fox Valley and into northern Illinois. Confirm your address falls within the territory served by the Waukesha office specifically, not just the broader Paul Davis network.
- During high-demand events like the August 2025 floods, several reviewers reported being strung along on wait lists rather than told directly that capacity was full. If you are calling after a regional disaster, ask point-blank whether they can take your job.