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About SERVPRO of Winter Park

Susan and Vern Boatman have owned and operated SERVPRO of Winter Park for over 15 years. Both of them live in the area. Their kids grew up here. The business they built reflects what happens when the people running a company have to face their customers at the grocery store, at the kids' sporting events, at the local restaurants on Park Avenue, and at the community gatherings throughout the year. SERVPRO of Winter Park is the local restoration company serving Winter Park, Maitland, Eatonville, Goldenrod, Baldwin Park, College Park, Oviedo, Winter Springs, and the surrounding Orange and Seminole County communities, with around-the-clock emergency restoration services for water damage, fire damage, mold, storm damage, and the full range of cleanup, biohazard, and reconstruction work.

A Service Area That Reflects the Best of Central Florida

The Winter Park territory is one of the most historically significant and architecturally distinctive parts of Central Florida. The footprint covers everything from the 1880s-era homes of Hannibal Square (the original African American settlement of Winter Park) to the chain-of-lakes estate properties around Lake Maitland and the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, from the academic district around Rollins College and Park Avenue to the residential neighborhoods that ring the area, and out to the commercial corridors that serve the surrounding communities.

The historic core of Winter Park includes Hannibal Square and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, the Rollins College Area along Lake Virginia and the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Virginia Heights on the south side of the lake, the Park Avenue commercial district that anchors the city, Central Park Winter Park, and the Winter Park Public Library. These neighborhoods include some of the oldest housing stock in Central Florida, with century-old plaster walls, original heart pine flooring, lath-and-plaster construction, and the kind of period architectural details that require restoration work that respects how these homes were actually built.

The eastern and western residential neighborhoods include Aloma, Eastbrook, the Full Sail University area, Howell Branch, Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland, Lake Formosa, Mills 50, Orwin Manor, Virginia Heights, and Winter Park Village. Each of these neighborhoods has its own character. Eastbrook is heavy on 1960s-1980s suburban construction with aging copper supply lines and slab-on-grade foundations. Aloma blends mature commercial corridor with established residential. The Full Sail area is dense with multi-family rental properties. Howell Branch sits at the watershed where Howell Branch Creek and Lake Howell create flooding patterns inland properties don't see. Lake Killarney and Lake Maitland are anchored by lakefront estate properties with private docks and boathouses. Lake Formosa connects to Orlando's cultural corridor near Loch Haven Park and the AdventHealth Orlando medical campus. Mills 50 is the dense small-business commercial corridor. Orwin Manor's brick-paved streets at Orange Avenue and Princeton Street host Mediterranean Revival, Tudor Revival, and Mission Revival construction from the 1920s and 1930s. Winter Park Village is the lifestyle and shopping center anchoring the Orlando Avenue corridor near Lee Road.

The surrounding service area extends into Maitland with its chain-of-lakes estate properties around Lake Maitland and the Maitland Art Center (a National Historic Landmark dating to 1937), Kraft Azalea Garden, the Enzian Theater, and Lake Lily Park, into Eatonville (the first incorporated African American municipality in the United States), and into Goldenrod, Baldwin Park, College Park, Oviedo, and Winter Springs. The 17-92 corridor (Orlando Avenue), Aloma Avenue, and Howell Branch Road serve as major commercial arteries connecting the territory.

Most of What We Do Is Straightforward Restoration Work

Water damage from burst pipes, ceiling leaks, water heater leaks, and roof leaks is the most common call by a wide margin. Mold remediation comes up regularly in older Winter Park bungalows where slow leaks have been hiding behind drywall for years before anyone notices the smell. Smoke damage cleanup happens after kitchen fires more often than after the large house fires people picture when they hear the phrase "fire damage." Summer thunderstorms in Central Florida can drop two inches of rain in an hour, enough to back up roof drains and find weaknesses in window seals that have been quietly failing since the last storm season.

We also handle commercial water damage restoration, commercial fire damage restoration, and large loss events for hotels, medical facilities, retail centers, restaurants, professional offices, and university properties. Our Winter Park warehouse keeps enough drying equipment, extraction equipment, and generator capacity to put multiple crews on a single hurricane or tropical storm response. Our membership in the SERVPRO Large Loss Orlando Division gives our team access to additional crews and equipment from the broader SERVPRO network when a large-scale event hits the region.

Services for Every Property Type in Every Neighborhood

Our work covers water damage restoration, emergency water removal, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, mold testing, mold inspection, smoke damage cleanup, soot removal, sewage backup cleanup, biohazard cleanup, crime scene cleanup, hoarding cleanup, hurricane damage response, storm damage restoration, emergency board-up and roof tarping, HVAC duct cleaning, asbestos coordination, lead paint coordination, document and photograph restoration through freeze-drying, contents pack-out, contents cleaning and restoration, specialty cleaning services, and full-service reconstruction.

Water damage restoration covers everything from the small Category 1 supply-line failure in a Baldwin Park condo to the multi-floor commercial Category 3 event at a hotel along the 17-92 corridor. We respond to burst pipes, ceiling leaks, roof leaks, water heater failures, dishwasher overflows, sprinkler activations, and exterior flooding. Initial extraction pulls out the standing water with truck-mounted equipment that can handle volume. After that, infrared cameras and moisture readings map where water has migrated through walls, into subfloor cavities, and into spaces a quick walk-through misses. Industrial drying equipment then runs around the clock until the materials test back at appropriate moisture readings. For historic homes around Hannibal Square or the Rollins College Area, we adapt the drying approach to original substrates that warrant aggressive drying rather than quick demolition. For lakefront properties around Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland, or Bear Gully Lake, we account for the higher ambient humidity loads that come with waterfront exposure.

The water category drives a lot of decisions. A clean Category 1 supply-line break that gets handled within the first day usually stays a clean-water job. The same break left for two days has typically deteriorated into Category 2. By day three, you're looking at Category 3 contamination protocols and a much bigger scope. Speed of response is one of the few variables a homeowner can actually influence.

Fire damage restoration covers the full range from kitchen grease fires in residential homes to electrical fires in commercial buildings to large-loss institutional events. Period architectural details in historic Winter Park homes can often be saved with careful smoke damage cleanup but get discarded by less experienced crews. The work proceeds in stages: emergency board-up and stabilization first, then suppression water removal before it warps subfloors, smoke and soot cleaning across surfaces, contents pack-out for items that need facility cleaning, deodorization treatment matched to whether the building can be vacated or has to stay occupied, and full reconstruction as the closing phase.

Some materials in a fire-damaged structure clean up. Others have absorbed too much smoke residue at the molecular level and have to be removed. The judgment call between salvage and replacement is where experience matters most, particularly with period materials in older Winter Park homes where the wrong call costs irreplaceable architectural value. For deodorization, hydroxyl generators work in occupied buildings where the residents are still living through the process. Ozone treatment works faster but requires the building to be vacated and sealed off, which means it gets used in different scenarios.

Mold remediation work begins with finding the moisture source. The sequence matters because removing visible mold without addressing what caused it just reschedules the same job in a few months. Once the source is identified and stopped, we set up containment to keep spores from migrating to other areas of the home. Affected porous materials like drywall and insulation come out and get disposed of as contaminated waste. The remaining surfaces get cleaned and treated with antimicrobial agents. HEPA filtration runs continuously throughout the affected area until clearance testing shows the spore counts have returned to normal background levels. For historic homes with original construction predating modern moisture barriers, the remediation approach prioritizes salvage of heritage materials when possible.

Storm and hurricane damage response involves emergency board-up, roof tarping, water extraction, structural drying, and reconstruction across the full range of property types. The mature tree canopy that defines so many Winter Park neighborhoods is also one of the biggest storm liabilities, with century-old oaks coming down on aging roofs during hurricane-force winds.

Sewage backup work runs under separate Category 3 black water protocols. Specialized extraction equipment handles the contaminated material, all porous affected materials get fully removed rather than cleaned in place, and the structure gets disinfected before drying begins. Biohazard and crime scene cleanup follows OSHA bloodborne pathogen procedures and gets handled discreetly with attention to the families and property managers dealing with traumatic situations. Specialty services include bat guano cleanup in attics, document and photograph restoration through freeze-drying when family records or business files get wet, asbestos coordination on properties built before the late 1970s, and lead paint considerations on pre-1978 surfaces during demolition.

Our technicians are IICRC-certified in water damage restoration, applied structural drying, fire and smoke restoration, and mold remediation. We maintain those certifications through ongoing training as standards and equipment evolve. We work with the full resources of the SERVPRO national brand combined with the personal accountability that comes with locally owned franchise ownership.

The Dental Office That Defined the Team

The unusual jobs are what people remember. A few years back, a vehicle came through the front glass of a local dental office in the middle of the day. The kind of call where the situation requires more than just standard restoration, where the building is structurally compromised, where the practice has patient appointments scheduled for the rest of the week, and where every hour the building sits unsecured is another hour of risk to the contents and the structure.

Our team was on site within the hour and had the building secured before close of business. Emergency board-up stabilized the front of the building. Glass cleanup and debris removal cleared the immediate access. Water damage from the elements got addressed before it could migrate into the rest of the structure. Restoration started the next morning so the practice could plan around a real timeline instead of an open question.

That kind of response is why we keep the phone answered at midnight on a Saturday. Restoration is a trust business as much as a technical one. People don't shop around when their house just flooded or when a vehicle just came through their front window. They call whoever they remember someone they know recommending, and that's the position we've worked to occupy in this community for the better part of two decades.

The same crew that handles those high-profile commercial situations also handles the family pipe burst on a Saturday night in Eastbrook, the smoke damage in a Lake Maitland estate kitchen, the mold remediation in a historic Hannibal Square bungalow, the sewage backup in a College Park home, the storm damage in a Winter Springs property after hurricane season, and the commercial water damage at a Park Avenue boutique that needs to reopen by Monday morning. Same standards. Same documentation discipline. Same accountability.

Working with Winter Park's Property Mix

The Winter Park territory has a property mix that requires real local knowledge, and fifteen years of working in this area means knowing how each neighborhood actually works.

The historic core around Hannibal Square, the Rollins College Area, Virginia Heights, and Orwin Manor includes properties built between the 1880s and the 1940s. These homes use materials like lath-and-plaster, original hardwoods including heart pine and oak, and period millwork that respond differently to water and smoke than modern construction. They also frequently contain asbestos in flooring, ceiling materials, and insulation, and lead paint on pre-1978 surfaces, both of which require licensed coordination during restoration. The work takes longer and prioritizes salvage over replacement when possible.

The lakefront properties around Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland, the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, Lake Virginia, and Bear Gully Lake have their own profile. Direct lake exposure means consistently high humidity loads inside the structure. Boathouses and dock structures take the brunt of storm-driven water and wind damage. Larger estate properties have higher reconstruction costs due to finish quality and specialized features. Properties closer to the waterline can see lake-driven flooding during named storm events, which standard homeowner policies generally don't cover.

The mid-century neighborhoods like Eastbrook and parts of Aloma have aging copper supply lines reaching the end of their serviceable life, cast iron drain lines that crack before fully failing, and electrical systems that have been updated piecemeal over decades. The failure modes are predictable, and the restoration approach has to account for substrates that may include heritage materials worth saving alongside modern updates.

The multi-family and rental-heavy areas around Full Sail University and parts of Aloma have their own restoration rhythm. Property managers are typically the decision-makers rather than individual homeowners. Damage in one unit frequently affects neighbors through shared walls and shared HVAC systems. Time-to-re-rent affects the property owner's revenue, so getting affected units habitable fast is part of the job.

The watershed neighborhoods around Howell Branch include properties along Howell Branch Creek, Lake Howell, and Bear Gully Lake that sit on lower-elevation lots. Surface flooding during heavy rain events can push water into garages, ground-floor units, and crawlspaces in ways that surprise homeowners who've never had issues before.

The commercial corridors along Park Avenue, Mills 50, Aloma Avenue, the 17-92 corridor, Howell Branch Road, and Winter Park Village include restaurants with full commercial kitchens, retail spaces, professional offices, and mixed-use buildings. Multi-tenant complexes have shared infrastructure where damage in one tenant space affects neighbors. Restaurant kitchen fires generate the highest commercial fire damage call volume by far. Coordination around business hours minimizes closure time and lost revenue.

Insurance Coordination Done Right

Most restoration jobs run through insurance carriers, and the documentation matters as much as the technical work. Adjusters need photos of damage before and during work, written scope of services, daily moisture readings logged with timestamps, material removal records, and clear cause-and-origin documentation. We coordinate directly with adjusters at State Farm, Allstate, Citizens, USAA, Progressive, Farmers, and the other Florida carriers active in our service area.

Property owners should not be coordinating documentation in the middle of a crisis. We handle that side of the job so they can focus on getting their lives or their business back to normal. When claims questions come up later, the documentation is in place to answer them. When carriers dispute scope or cause, the documentation supports the position.

For commercial clients with operational continuity concerns, the documentation and the restoration work happen in parallel with whatever scheduling and access constraints the business needs. For residential clients dealing with displacement, we coordinate with the carrier on additional living expenses documentation alongside the restoration work itself. For property managers handling multi-family or rental properties, we coordinate on tenant communication, access scheduling, and turn timing alongside the documentation work.

Why Local Ownership Matters

There is a difference between a restoration company owned by an investor group running multiple franchises across multiple states and a restoration company owned by people who actually live in the community they serve. Susan and Vern Boatman have been part of this Winter Park community for fifteen years. They live here. Their kids grew up here. The team they have built reflects that. The crews who answer the emergency calls are the same crews who see the customers at the grocery store, at the kids' sporting events, at the local restaurants on Park Avenue, and at the community gatherings throughout the year.

That community presence creates a kind of accountability that doesn't exist in absentee ownership models. When a job goes wrong somewhere, the owners hear about it directly from neighbors and customers. When a job goes well, the same channels deliver the feedback. Over fifteen years, that consistent feedback loop has shaped how the company operates.

Susan handles the relationships and the operations side. Vern stays close to the work itself and the customer experience. The team is built around long-tenure technicians who know the territory and know each other. The equipment is invested in based on what the actual job pipeline requires, not what a national franchise template recommends. The relationships with local property managers, insurance adjusters, real estate professionals, and reconstruction contractors are built on years of working together and earning trust through performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is water damage restoration? Water damage restoration is a multi-stage process that starts with stopping the source, removes the water from affected areas, dries the structure and materials thoroughly, treats any contamination present, and finishes with the demolition and reconstruction work needed to return the property to its pre-loss condition.

What does water damage restoration cost in the Winter Park area? Cost depends on water category, square footage, and property type. Small Category 1 jobs can run a few hundred dollars. Category 3 jobs involving demolition can reach five figures or more for larger properties. Most claims go through homeowner or commercial insurance.

Do you serve the entire Winter Park and surrounding area? Yes. Our service area covers Winter Park, Hannibal Square, Rollins College Area, Virginia Heights, Orwin Manor, Aloma, Eastbrook, Full Sail University area, Howell Branch, Lake Formosa, Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland, Mills 50, Winter Park Village, Maitland, Eatonville, Goldenrod, Baldwin Park, College Park, Oviedo, Winter Springs, and the surrounding Orange and Seminole County neighborhoods.

How is restoration different in a historic Winter Park home versus newer construction? Historic homes use materials like lath-and-plaster, original hardwoods, and period millwork that respond differently to water and smoke. They also frequently contain asbestos and lead paint that require specialized handling. The work takes longer and prioritizes salvage over replacement when possible.

Do you handle commercial restoration along Park Avenue and Mills 50? Yes. Commercial water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, and mold remediation for retail spaces, restaurants, offices, and mixed-use buildings is a core part of our work. We coordinate around business hours and operational requirements when possible to minimize closure time.

Do you handle lakefront property restoration around the Winter Park Chain of Lakes? Yes. Properties around Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland, the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, Lake Virginia, and Bear Gully Lake have their own restoration profile, including higher ambient humidity loads, dock and boathouse damage from storms, and lake-driven flooding considerations during named storms.

Does my homeowner insurance cover lake-driven flooding or surface flooding from Howell Branch Creek? Standard homeowner policies generally exclude flooding from exterior sources like lakes, creeks, or storm surge. Properties at flood risk should carry separate flood insurance through NFIP or a private carrier. Interior plumbing failures and roof leaks are covered differently than exterior flooding.

Should I worry about asbestos or lead paint during restoration on a historic home? Yes, both. Materials installed before the late 1970s frequently contain asbestos or lead. We coordinate with licensed abatement specialists when those materials need disturbing during restoration work.

Does academic calendar timing affect restoration scheduling around Rollins College? It can. We coordinate with property owners around academic schedules when possible, particularly for student housing during semester transitions and for faculty homes around teaching schedules.

How fast can you respond to an emergency? Our phone gets answered around the clock. For urgent calls in Winter Park, Maitland, Eatonville, Baldwin Park, College Park, and the surrounding service area, our target is to have a crew on site within an hour of dispatch.

Are your technicians certified? Yes. Our technicians hold IICRC certifications in water damage restoration, applied structural drying, fire and smoke restoration, and mold remediation. We maintain those certifications through ongoing training as standards and equipment evolve.

Do you handle large commercial losses? Yes. Through the SERVPRO Large Loss Orlando Division, we have the capability to bring in additional crews and equipment for major commercial events including multi-floor water losses, fires at large facilities, and major storm response.

Do you work with my insurance carrier? Most likely yes. The documentation side of restoration work is often the difference between a smooth claim and a disputed one, and our team handles the paperwork directly with adjusters at State Farm, Allstate, Citizens, USAA, Progressive, Farmers, and the rest of the Florida carrier mix while the property owner focuses on putting their life or business back together.

Do you work with property managers and HOAs? Yes. Property manager coordination is a core part of our commercial and multi-family work, including tenant communication during repairs, access scheduling, and HOA documentation requirements for the various master-planned communities and multi-family properties throughout the territory.

Do you handle reconstruction after the cleanup? Yes. Full-service reconstruction is part of our work, which means property owners don't have to coordinate between separate mitigation and reconstruction trades. One team handles the full project from emergency response through final reconstruction.

A Local Business with Real Roots

The Boatmans built this business because they wanted to be the company their neighbors could count on. Fifteen years in, the standard hasn't changed. SERVPRO of Winter Park is the local restoration company that the Winter Park area, the historic Winter Park core, the lakefront estate communities, the multi-family rental areas, the Park Avenue and Mills 50 commercial corridors, and the surrounding Maitland, Eatonville, Baldwin Park, College Park, Oviedo, and Winter Springs neighborhoods rely on when something goes wrong. Susan and Vern Boatman, their team, and the work they do every day reflect what fifteen years of community ownership and accountability actually look like in practice.