Restoration companies in Wisconsin

Fire work is the standout

Water damage is on all 18 listed sites, as you'd expect. The surprise is fire and smoke, documented by 17 of 18. Mold remediation follows at 14 of 18 and storm damage at 13 of 18. Sewage and biohazard cleanup is the gap: exactly half the list documents it, so a backed-up floor drain narrows your options fast.

All 18 state 24/7 availability. 13 of 18 mention insurance claim help, though see the rule below before you let anyone talk to your insurer for you. Half state free estimates, and none is a franchise location.

The warranty problem

Just 2 of 18 companies describe a warranty on their work, so you'll almost always need to ask. Response time is only a little better, stated by 6 of 18.

10 of 18 name an industry standard such as IICRC S500 for water or S520 for mold. That's a claim on the company's own site and we score it that way. None of the 18 shows a credential from a third party that we could confirm, so the checks below fall to you.

Why the list isn't ranked

The median coverage for these companies is 69%, the limit for evidence drawn from websites. To reach 70%, a company needs a record from outside, like a business registry entry with a formation date. The Department of Financial Institutions keeps business entity records searchable through CRIS, but we haven't connected CRIS or the DSPS license data. Until then Wisconsin stays a comparison table.

How to check a restoration company in Wisconsin

Ask about the permit. DSPS issues Dwelling Contractor certification, and a building permit for a one- or two-family home goes only to someone holding that certification or the Restricted version, with some exceptions. Search the company's credential on the DSPS LicensE License Lookup.

Be wary of mold badges. Wisconsin's Department of Health Services says neither it nor the federal government certifies mold contractors or consultants, and it wants anyone advertising as State Certified or State Endorsed reported to the consumer protection fraud division.

Lead rules are state-run and specific. Under Wisconsin's Lead-Safe Renovation Rule, work in a home built before 1978 that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room inside, more than 20 square feet outside, or replaces windows must be done by a certified lead-safe renovator working for a certified lead company.

Watch storm claims. Section 100.65 of the Wisconsin Statutes lets you cancel an insurance-paid roof or exterior repair contract until the end of the third business day after the insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, and it bars a residential contractor from representing you or negotiating for you on that claim.

The Department of Financial Institutions' CRIS search confirms the business entity. Each Wisconsin profile marks license, IICRC and lead-safe checks as Not verified until one is logged.