About DryGuard Restoration
We are an IICRC-certified water damage restoration business in Orlando. We are not a franchise or a national chain that sends the nearest crew. Our company is licensed and has worked through three hurricane seasons. We are accountable to the local community.
📞 (407) 250-7641
DryGuard Restoration Built for Orlando's Climate, Not the National Average
Restoring water damage in Orlando takes local knowledge. A national franchise just doesn't have it. When we show up at a College Park bungalow at 2 AM, we already know that house. We know the crawlspace. We know the old pine floors. We know the cast-iron plumbing. We've worked in that neighborhood for years.
Orlando's climate is different from most of the country, and that changes everything. Mold can start growing here in just 24 hours, not the 48 to 72 hours you'll see in most guides. Our air stays humid, often 74 to 77 percent, so our drying process has to account for that. Even our storms behave differently once they weaken over Florida's limestone ground.
We built DryGuard around this local knowledge. Our technicians carry IICRC certifications. You can check those at iicrc.org. Our mold work is done under Florida Mold Remediator License #MRSR3847. You can verify that at MyFloridaLicense.com. We were here through Charley, Ian, and Milton. We'll be here for the next one too.
Our Non-Negotiables on Every Job
- ✓ Written, itemized estimate before any work begins; no exceptions
- ✓ Calibrated moisture documentation at every measurement point
- ✓ No Assignment of Benefits requested or required
- ✓ Insurance coordination, but you stay in control of your claim
- ✓ We tell you honestly when NOT to file a claim
- ✓ Dry standard verified by meter, not by visual inspection
Verify at iicrc.org
The IICRC S500 Standard guides professional water damage restoration. All lead technicians have up-to-date WRT certification.
Verify at MyFloridaLicense.com
Florida Statute §468.8411 requires licensed professionals for all mold assessment and remediation. Our RC license is active, current, and verifiable. Ask any contractor for their FL license number before work begins.
Charley 2004 · Ian 2022 · Milton 2024
During three hurricanes in Central Florida, we dealt with water damage. We created a system to record the cause and origin of each loss. The system separates wind-driven rain from flood damage. When the causes got mixed up, Orlando homeowners lost millions. Their claims were denied after the storms.
All Orlando neighborhoods
Our reviews mention College Park, Winter Park, Lake Nona, and Dr. Phillips. We work only in those neighborhoods. We see this as our accountability standard.
Why We Publish Pricing and Say "Don't File" When It's the Right Call
Most restoration firms in Orlando do not publish their prices. They also do not tell homeowners when it is okay to skip an insurance claim. They rarely say that damage is minor and that the owner can fix it themselves. The companies keep this policy because it protects their income.
We do all three and it's our most effective marketing.
A homeowner calls about a spill on a hard floor. They saw it within ten minutes, and it did not reach the wall. We tell them they likely do not need our service. We explain what signs to watch for. We give them our phone number in case the problem gets worse. Over the next eighteen months, that homeowner sends three neighbors our way.
When a homeowner has a $1,200 deductible and $1,500 of damage, we calculate whether filing a claim makes sense. We include the effect on premiums for the next three years and tell them if the answer is "probably not." That homeowner contacts us early, not after the event.
In this market, word of mouth and reputation matter most. Our model works here. Homeowners talk to each other and share both good and bad experiences. We think real helpfulness is the way to stay sustainable.
How We Ensure the Technical Accuracy of This Website
We checked all pages on waterdamagerestorationsorlando.com for accuracy. The main sources we used are listed below.
IICRC S500 Standard
Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration, current edition. All drying timelines, dry standard values, and equipment recommendations reflect S500 protocols.
IICRC S520 Standard
Standard for Professional Mold Remediation. All mold protocol descriptions, clearance testing requirements, and remediation scope guidance reflect S520.
Florida Statutes Chapter 627
Property-insurance regulations cover several areas. Section 627.70131 sets claim deadlines. Section 627.70132 sets filing deadlines. Section 627.714 limits mold coverage. Section 627.4133 protects against cancellation.
Florida Statute §468.8411
Mold-Related Services licensing requirements for mold assessment (RS) and remediation (RC) in Florida.
FEMA NFIP Standards
The National Flood Insurance Program issues guidelines. The Substantial Damage Rule describes a method. Base Flood Elevation establishes standards.
Orange County Floodplain Administration
Local officials decide flood zones, assess substantial damage, and manage base flood elevation.
Our pricing uses 2026 Central Florida market rates taken from DryGuard’s past jobs. The price ranges show common cases. Your exact cost may differ depending on the job size, how hard it is to reach the site, and demand after a storm. Contact us for a written estimate for your property.
Ready to Work With a Restoration Company That Tells the Truth?
Written estimate before work starts. Honest insurance guidance. IICRC-certified work verified by calibrated meters. Available 24/7.
Marcus D. Rivera — 18 Years in Orlando Restoration
I grew up watching my uncle do drywall work in Orlando in the 1990s. I got my first restoration job in 2006, two years after Charley tore through Central Florida. That storm showed me what this region actually needs from a restoration company — someone who knows the limestone geography, the pier-and-beam construction, and the way Florida humidity makes every job harder and faster-moving than the textbook assumes.
I've been IICRC-certified since 2009. My Applied Structural Drying certification came in 2011 after I spent a year specifically studying how humidity variables in Florida affect equipment placement and drying timelines. The national S500 standard assumes 50–60% ambient humidity. We never have that here. Our drying calculations always start from 74–77% and work from there.
I started DryGuard after watching the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022. Out-of-state contractors flooded into Central Florida within 48 hours of the storm. Homeowners were signing contracts with companies that had no Florida mold licenses, no local track record, and no intention of finishing the job before the next storm brought more work their way. I'd been working restoration jobs in Orlando for sixteen years at that point. I knew every neighborhood's construction profile. I decided to build a company around that knowledge.
- 🏅 IICRC WRT — Water Damage Restoration Technician · Verify at iicrc.org
- 🏅 IICRC ASD — Applied Structural Drying
- 📋 FL Mold Remediator License #MRSR3847 · Verify at MyFloridaLicense.com
- 🌀 On-site through Charley (2004), Ian (2022), Milton (2024)
- 📍 18 years in Orange County · College Park · Winter Park · Lake Nona · Thornton Park
The DryGuard Standard — What Happens on Every Single Job
These are the non-negotiables. Not the things we aim for, but the things that happen without exception on every job we take in Orlando.
Written Estimate First
Before a single piece of equipment is placed, you receive a written itemized estimate. We will not start work without your signature. No verbal agreements, no "we'll figure it out as we go." If we find additional damage during the job, we stop, add it to the scope, and get your approval before continuing.
IICRC S500 Moisture Documentation
Every measurement point, every day, with calibrated meters. The readings go into a log that we provide to you and your adjuster. "It looks dry" is not a standard we use. The calibrated meter reading at every test point is the standard. Reconstruction does not begin until all readings confirm dry standard.
No AOB — Ever
We have never asked a homeowner to sign an Assignment of Benefits and we never will. Florida eliminated residential AOB in 2023 for good reason. Your insurance claim is yours. The check goes to you. We handle the documentation, the adjuster communication, and the scope of work — but your rights stay with you.
Honest Claim Guidance
We tell you when you should and should not file an insurance claim. If your deductible is $1,200 and the damage is $1,400, we calculate the three-year premium impact and tell you straight: filing this claim is probably going to cost you more than it saves. Honest guidance costs us a short-term job and earns us a long-term customer.
Same-Day Response in All Zones
We answer every call with a live person. We dispatch immediately across all of Orange County, Osceola County, and the surrounding areas. There is no difference in response speed between Winter Park and Apopka, or between a weekday afternoon and 2 AM on a Sunday. Same crew, same priority, same pace.
Local Crews — No Subcontracting to Unknown Firms
The crew that comes to your home is a DryGuard crew. We do not subcontract work to other restoration companies. After a named storm, when every crew in Florida is overwhelmed, we work our existing capacity and do not bring in outside firms we can't vouch for. You get the crew you hired.
Common Questions About DryGuard Restoration
Are you a franchise or an independently owned company?
DryGuard Restoration is independently owned and operated in Orlando, Florida. We are not affiliated with any national franchise. Our technicians are employees, not subcontractors. Our pricing, protocols, and decisions are made locally. When you call us, you're talking to the people who will be at your home.
How do I verify your licenses and certifications?
Our Florida Mold Remediator License (#MRSR3847) can be verified at MyFloridaLicense.com — search by license number. Our IICRC certifications can be verified at iicrc.org. We encourage every homeowner to verify any restoration contractor's credentials before signing anything. It takes two minutes and protects you from unlicensed operators, particularly common after major storms.
Do you work with all insurance companies?
Yes. We work with adjusters from Citizens, State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Universal, and all other major Florida carriers. We provide complete documentation packages that meet or exceed what adjusters require: before photos, daily moisture logs, cause-of-loss narrative, and itemized scope. We do not take assignment of benefits — every insurance check goes directly to you.
What areas do you serve?
We serve all of Orange County, most of Osceola County including Kissimmee, and parts of Seminole County. Our primary service neighborhoods include Winter Park, Lake Nona, College Park, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Kissimmee, Thornton Park, Baldwin Park, Maitland, and Apopka. See our full service area page with ZIP codes.