How to check a water damage restoration company in Texas
Five checks you can do from your phone in a few minutes, using Texas public records, before you let a company start work.
Last checked: November 3, 2026. General information, not advice for your property.
1. Is it a real, active Texas business?
Search the company's legal name (often ending in LLC or Inc.) in the Texas Comptroller's taxable entity search, which shows whether an entity is active. (Texas Comptroller) The Texas Secretary of State also keeps business filings through SOSDirect. (Texas Secretary of State) Many Katy and Sugar Land companies are locally owned franchise offices of national brands. That is normal; check the local owner's company, not only the brand.
2. Mold work: check the TDLR license
Texas has no separate state license for water extraction and drying. Mold is different: remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more needs a company and workers with mold licenses from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). (TDLR FAQ) Search the company in the TDLR license search and check the license is active and in the company's name. (TDLR license search)
3. Trade certification (optional)
Many restoration firms hold certification from the IICRC, the trade body that writes the water damage standard. You can look up certified firms in the IICRC locator. (IICRC) It is a trade credential, not a state license.
4. Does the company match itself?
- The name on the truck, the estimate and the website should match.
- Look for a real street address, not only a phone number. Be careful with sites that say they are an "advertising service" or a "network": they pass your call to whoever pays.
- Read the company's own reviews on Google and elsewhere.
5. Before you sign
- Get a written estimate with line items, and ask how drying will be measured and recorded.
- Ask whether the company will send its estimate, photos and moisture logs to your insurance company.
- Read any agreement fully. Ask what you owe if insurance pays less than the bill, and what happens if you cancel.
- Do not feel rushed to sign once the water is stopped and drying has started.
How we check companies on this site
Every company we list is an active LLC or corporation in Texas records, with facts taken from its own website and public records and a source for each. We show a mold license number only after confirming it in TDLR records. We do not rate or review companies. How we list companies.
Choose your area, compare real local restoration companies, and send one free request to the one you pick.
Questions people ask
How do I check if a restoration company is legitimate in Texas?
Search its legal name in the Texas Comptroller taxable entity search to see if it is active, check any mold license in the TDLR license search, and make sure the name, address and phone match its own website.
Does Texas require a license for water damage restoration?
Texas has no separate state license for water extraction and drying. Mold remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more requires TDLR mold licenses, with exceptions for owners working on their own homes.
What is IICRC certification?
The IICRC is the restoration trade body that writes the water damage standard used by the industry. Its certification is a trade credential, not a state license. Certified firms can be looked up in the IICRC locator.
Are franchise restoration companies local?
Many franchise offices are locally owned businesses using a national brand. Check the local owner's company in Texas records.
Related guides
Houston Water Damage Guide is not a restoration company. We are a free referral directory run by Rank First Labs Ltd. This guide is general information. When water is near electricity, a ceiling is sagging, or the water is from sewage or a flood, keep out and call a professional.