
San Francisco, CA
Best Fire Damage Restoration Companies in San Francisco, CA
Based on local review volume, average ratings, Google category data, and AI visibility across San Francisco.
By Pendium ResearchUpdated October 27, 2026
18
Businesses reviewed
16
AI research reports
10
Top picks

San Francisco packs high-density housing, steep hills, and complex building codes into a tiny peninsula. When fire strikes a Victorian in the Haight or a mixed-use building in SOMA, the damage rarely stays confined to one unit. Shared walls and stacked floor plans mean smoke and water from the fire hoses travel fast into neighboring properties. The city's famous fog and cool marine layer complicate the drying process, making rapid water extraction just as important as the initial fire cleanup. Contractors here deal with strict environmental regulations and notoriously slow permit processes at the Department of Building Inspection. Older housing stock routinely hides asbestos and lead paint, turning a standard wall tear-out into a hazmat operation. A good operator in this market knows how to spot these hazards early and sequence the abatement work so the rebuild does not stall for months. Since many local addresses listed in this trade are small administrative offices or dispatch hubs, the contractor you hire might be pulling trucks from San Jose or the East Bay. We ranked the businesses actually operating inside city limits first. Out-of-town providers are clearly marked with their home base and distance from the city center.
The verdict
Our Quick Picks
Dry Kings and Reactic Restoration lead the San Francisco market with strong review volumes and deep local footprints. Several well-rated independent outfits like Faragon Restoration and Allied Restoration Company offer solid alternatives to the national franchises. Buyers in the outer neighborhoods often lean on nearby providers based in Daly City or Burlingame when city-based teams are booked.
- 1Best for High-Volume ReviewsDry Kings
Homeowners wanting a heavily reviewed local contractor with certified fire and water technicians.
- 2Best for Verified Consumer AuditsReactic Restoration
Buyers looking for a Diamond Certified local alternative to the large national franchises.
- 3Best for Direct Insurance BillingAllied Restoration Company
Policyholders who need a contractor fluent in carrier billing software.
- 4Best for Complex RebuildsFaragon Restoration, Ltd.
Older homes where fire damage requires asbestos testing and full structural reconstruction.
- 5Best for Central City ResponseSOS Restoration
Downtown property owners needing rapid response from a centrally located office.
- 6Best for National Franchise Standards911 Restoration of San Francisco
Customers who prefer the standardized protocols and oversight of a major national network.
- 7Best for Water and Mold Follow-UpGiants Restoration
Quick water extraction and insulation removal following fire hose flooding.
- 8Best for Specialized Mold CleanupCrystal Guard Water Damage Experts
Localized cleanup adhering strictly to EPA mold guidelines.
- 9Best for Peninsula PropertiesGCD Restoration
Homeowners on the southern edge of San Francisco who need rapid dispatch from Daly City.
- 10Best for Large Commercial LossesSERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae
Major commercial property managers needing massive equipment staging power.
All 18 fire damage restoration companies in San Francisco, at a glance
| Specialty | AI Sentiment | Contact | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for High-Volume Reviews | 62Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Verified Consumer Audits | 68Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Direct Insurance Billing | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Complex Rebuilds | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Central City Response | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for National Franchise Standards | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Water and Mold Follow-Up | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Specialized Mold Cleanup | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Peninsula Properties | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Large Commercial Losses | 72Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Hayward | 58Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in San Rafael Restoration Brothers Mold inspections -Water & Fire damaged services | — | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Based in Oakland | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Berkeley Fire Damage Squad | — | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Based in South San Francisco | 68Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Lafayette | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in San Leandro | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Daly City | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Reach Dry Kings
420 Berry St Ste 420, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
Reach Reactic Restoration
1355 Fairfax Ave b2, San Francisco, CA 94124, United States
Reach Allied Restoration Company
222 Columbus Ave Ste 201, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
Reach Faragon Restoration, Ltd.
1087 Revere Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124, United States
Reach SOS Restoration
1390 Market St #2013, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States
Reach 911 Restoration of San Francisco
637 28th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
Reach Giants Restoration
685 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States
Reach Crystal Guard Water Damage Experts
324 Liberty St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States
Reach GCD Restoration
1244 Skyline Dr, Daly City, CA 94015, United States
Reach SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae
890 Cowan Rd Ste F, Burlingame, CA 94010, United States
Before you hire in San Francisco
Rebuilding after a fire in San Francisco requires dealing with strict city permitting and specialized hazard testing. Here is what to look for when choosing a contractor for the job.
Checking the Contractor's License
California law requires anyone doing structural repairs to hold an active license from the Contractors State License Board. For fire restoration, look for a general building contractor classification. You can look up their license number on the state board website to verify it is active and free of major disciplinary actions. Never let an unlicensed crew start tearing out charred drywall.
Dealing with San Francisco Permits
The Department of Building Inspection has rigid rules for structural repairs, electrical work, and plumbing replacement following a fire. A qualified restoration company handles this paperwork for you. Ask them directly about their experience working with city inspectors. If a contractor suggests doing the work off the books to speed things up, find someone else. Unpermitted fire repairs will block you from ever selling the property.
Testing for Asbestos and Lead
Most of the housing stock in the city predates modern building material bans. If your home was built before the 1980s, the plaster, flooring adhesives, and exterior paint likely contain asbestos or lead. The restoration crew must test these materials before tearing out the burned sections. Proper hazard abatement requires sealing off the area and running negative air machines to protect the rest of the neighborhood.
Water Extraction After the Hoses
Firefighters use massive amounts of water to save your home. Once the flames are out, the water damage becomes the primary threat to the structure. The cold, foggy climate on the peninsula slows down natural evaporation, meaning mold can set into wet wood within days. The company you hire must deploy commercial dehumidifiers and heavy duty fans immediately to dry the framing.
Managing the Insurance Adjuster
A fire creates a complex property claim. Good restoration companies use industry standard software like Xactimate to document the damage and submit line item estimates directly to your carrier. Ask the contractor if they have a dedicated claims specialist on staff. Having an advocate who speaks the adjuster's language prevents the insurance company from lowballing the repair scope.
Securing the Property Fast
The first step after a fire is board up and roof tarping. Broken windows and burned out doors leave your property exposed to theft, vandalism, and coastal rain. Before discussing long term rebuild plans, verify that the contractor offers 24 hour emergency board up services to lock down the site the moment the fire department clears the scene.
Questions people ask
Does my homeowner's insurance cover fire damage restoration?
Standard policies cover sudden and accidental fire damage. The carrier pays for the cleanup, the structural rebuild, and often your temporary housing. You remain responsible for your policy deductible.
How long does the smoke smell last?
Smoke odor lingers until all charred material is removed and the HVAC system is professionally cleaned. Contractors use ozone generators and thermal fogging to neutralize the smell inside the wall cavities. Simply painting over soot will not stop the odor from returning.
Should I hire a separate company for water cleanup?
Most fire restoration contractors handle water extraction in house. The two problems happen at the same time, so splitting the job between different crews slows down the recovery. Look for a team with certifications in both disciplines.
Can I stay in my home during the restoration?
You usually need to move out. Soot particles contaminate the air, and the lack of working electricity or plumbing makes the property uninhabitable. Your insurance policy likely includes loss of use coverage to pay for a hotel or rental.
What is a board-up service?
Contractors nail plywood over broken windows and damaged doors to secure the building. They also drape heavy tarps over holes in the roof. This keeps rain out and prevents trespassers from entering the compromised structure.
Do I need an asbestos test after a fire?
Yes, if your house is older. Fire damages the building materials and releases hidden asbestos fibers into the air. State regulations require testing the debris before workers haul it to the dump.
Can my electronics be saved after a fire?
Sometimes, if the heat did not melt the internal components. Corrosive soot eats away at circuit boards over time. Specialized restoration companies can clean and deodorize computers and televisions if they get to them quickly.
Why do they tear out drywall that did not burn?
Fire hoses soak the walls, and drywall turns to mush when wet. Removing it prevents toxic black mold from growing inside the wall cavity. It also exposes the wood framing so it can dry completely.
How we chose
Ranked on reviews and on how ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and AI Overviews see each business.
We built this guide by pulling the current Google Maps listing for fire damage restoration in San Francisco. We ranked the available businesses based on their total review volume, average customer rating, and the specific service categories they publish on Google. We also ran a deep AI visibility analysis on most of the businesses on this list. That analysis reads what is publicly published about a contractor and estimates how major AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are likely to describe them when a homeowner asks for a recommendation. We used those findings as context for the provider profiles below. We did not call, license, inspect, or interview any of these companies. We have no source for pricing, response times, or warranty terms, so you will not find any cost estimates here. Our goal is strictly to organize the public data so you can decide who to contact first.
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