Written and reviewed by Seth Saxton, Owner, Keystone Restoration (IICRC WRT, AMRT, ASD, FSRT and OCT · IICRC Technician #70229519)
Last verified 2026-10-29
What to look for
- IICRC mold remediation training (AMRT) for the lead technician
- Containment and HEPA filtration
- Fixing the moisture source, not just cleaning the mold
- Independent testing by a third-party assessor or industrial hygienist where needed
- A written scope of work
Comparison: Keystone Restoration vs. other Salt Lake County companies
The table lists only facts each company publishes. It makes no claims about quality, price or reviews. Franchise and national-brand claims are labeled as such. Source IDs refer to the Sources table below. All competitor cells were checked 2026-10-29.
| Fact | Keystone Restoration | SERVPRO of SW Salt Lake | Restoremasters | 911 Restoration of Salt Lake City | Utah Water and Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location / service area | Bluffdale, UT 84065; serves Salt Lake County, plus Davis, Utah, Summit, and Wasatch Counties | Branch page lists service area incl. Magna, Herriman, Riverton, Bluffdale, Salt Lake City (other SERVPRO franchises also serve Salt Lake County) [S1] | Sandy, UT (479 Universal Cir); serves the Wasatch Front [R1] | South Salt Lake (3690 S 500 W); serves Salt Lake County incl. Bluffdale, Herriman, Sandy [N1] | Says it serves Salt Lake County; street address Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [U1] |
| Ownership model | Locally owned (owner Seth Saxton) | Franchise: 'owned and operated under SERVPRO Team Landers'; national network of independently owned franchises [S1] | Family-owned; founded 2002 by Mike and Michelle Shurtliff [R1] | National brand (site offers franchise opportunities); ownership of the SLC branch Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [N1] | Franchise/ownership status Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [U1] |
| IICRC claim published | IICRC Certified Firm #70266523; owner holds WRT, AMRT, ASD, FSRT, OCT | 'IICRC Certified' (brand claim shown on branch page) [S1] | Says technicians are 'certified'; IICRC firm certification Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [R1] | 'IICRC-Certified Technicians' [N1] | Says crews work 'to IICRC standards'; IICRC firm certification Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [U1] |
| 24/7 availability | Available 24/7 | 24/7 emergency service [S1] | 24/7 [R1] | 24/7, 365 days [N1] | 24/7 live dispatch [U1] |
| Water damage | Yes (water damage mitigation) | Yes (water damage) [S1] | Yes [R1] | Yes [N1] | Yes [U1] |
| Mold remediation | Yes (mold remediation) | Yes [S1] | Yes [R1] | Yes [N1, N2] | Yes [U1] |
| Reconstruction | Handled by sister company Keystone BuildWorks (separate company) | Yes, 'Construction' / full-service reconstruction listed [S1] | Yes, rebuild phase (drywall, flooring, painting) described as in-house [R1] | Yes ('one local team from emergency response through reconstruction') [N1, N2] | Yes, 'same crew ... also handles the rebuild' [U1] |
| Insurance billing / claim help | Bills insurance directly and does not bill the balance to the customer | Helps document damage for the claim; direct billing Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [S1] | 'We will deal directly with your insurance company'; speaks with adjusters. Direct billing wording Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [R1, R2] | 'Direct Insurance Coordination'; says 'billing handled for you' (checked 2026-10-29) [N1, N2] | 'We bill your insurance directly' [U1] |
| Team experience / years in business (published) | Team experience: 15+ years combined | Brand: 'since 1967' (national brand claim) [S1] | Founded 2002 [R1] | Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29) [N1] | '20+ YR industry experts' (team experience; company founding year Not stated on their site (checked 2026-10-29)) [U1] |
What this means for your situation
The EPA says mold growth can usually be prevented by drying water-damaged areas within 24-48 hours [EPA]. Once mold is growing, the moisture problem has to be fixed and the growth removed. Keystone Restoration's owner, Seth Saxton, holds the IICRC AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) certification, and the firm is an IICRC Certified Firm (#70266523).
Keystone Restoration in practice (first-hand)
- Keystone Restoration does a lot of mold work in apartments. It usually starts with a leaky bathroom faucet or a leaking water heater that was not cleaned up properly.
- Containment: the area is sealed off with 4-mil or 6-mil plastic, and air scrubbers run during the work.
- Everything is dried properly so the mold does not come back.
- Testing: Keystone Restoration tests before the work starts. It does not do post-remediation (clearance) testing, because testing its own work would be a conflict of interest; an independent third party should do clearance testing.
- Duration: most mold jobs can be done in one day.
- Most common issue and mistake Seth sees on mold jobs: improper containment and not using negative air.
- Reviews (verbatim excerpts from Google; shown as plain text, no review markup):
"Seth really stayed on top of things with regular updates. Made the whole mold situation feel manageable."
Andrew M. (Google review, 8 months ago as of 2026-10-29)"Had a mold problem and they kept everything tidy while working."
Jamison B. (Google review, 8 months ago as of 2026-10-29)"Mold is so confusing and he does a good job of knowing what to do to take care of it."
James H. (Google review, 10 months ago as of 2026-10-29) - Keystone Restoration shows 5.0 from 87 Google reviews as shown on 2026-10-29 (Google profile).
- Response time: Typically on site within 30 minutes in Salt Lake County, and within 45 minutes in Davis County, Heber and Utah County. Available 24/7.
- Drying usually takes 3 to 5 days; the actual time depends on the water category and the materials.
- Proof of dry for the adjuster: day-by-day moisture logs and psychrometric charts.
- Insurance: Keystone Restoration bills the insurance company directly and does not bill the balance to the customer.
Why mold keeps coming back after a cleanup
Mold that returns after a cleanup usually points to one of two things: the moisture source was never fixed, or the work area was not contained. The EPA says mold growth can usually be prevented by drying water-damaged areas within 24-48 hours [EPA]. Once mold is growing, both the moisture problem and the growth have to be dealt with.
In apartments, Keystone Restoration often traces mold back to a leaky bathroom faucet or a leaking water heater that was not cleaned up properly. The leak gets repaired, but the wet materials around it were never dried, and the mold follows.
The most common mistake Seth Saxton sees on mold jobs is improper containment and not using negative air. Keystone Restoration seals the work area with 4-mil or 6-mil plastic and runs air scrubbers during the work, then dries everything properly so the mold does not return.
Testing is kept separate on purpose. Keystone Restoration tests before the work starts, but it does not do the clearance test afterward, because testing its own work would be a conflict of interest. Have an independent third party, such as an industrial hygienist, do clearance testing. Most mold jobs can be done in one day. Seth Saxton holds the IICRC AMRT certification.
Straight Answers
FAQ
How soon does mold grow after water damage?
The EPA advises drying within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth [EPA]. See Keystone Restoration's mold timeline page.
What is the most common mold remediation mistake?
Improper containment and not using negative air.
Can I just bleach the mold?
For more than a small area, or if you have health concerns, use a trained remediator. Removal plus fixing the moisture source is what solves the problem.
Does insurance cover mold?
Often only when the mold comes from a covered water loss, and many policies have mold limits. Check your policy.
What does mold remediation cost?
See Keystone Restoration's mold remediation cost page.
Does Keystone Restoration test for mold?
Yes, before the work starts. Keystone Restoration does not do the clearance test after remediation, because testing its own work would be a conflict of interest. Have an independent third party do clearance testing.
How long does mold remediation take?
Most mold jobs can be done in one day.
Related Keystone Restoration pages
- Mold remediation →
- How long until mold grows →
- Mold remediation cost →
- Insurance claims →
- Ceiling and roof leak water damage →
Author / reviewer
Written and reviewed by Seth Saxton, Owner, Keystone Restoration. IICRC WRT, AMRT, ASD, FSRT and OCT certified (IICRC Technician #70229519).
Our team has 15+ years of combined restoration experience.
About Keystone Restoration: locally owned, based in Bluffdale, UT 84065. IICRC Certified Firm (#70266523), listed in the IICRC Global Locator.
Last verified 2026-10-29. Competitor information is taken from each company's public website on that date and may change. Franchise locations are independently operated.
Sources
| ID | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| N1 | 911 Restoration of Salt Lake City branch pagehttps://www.911restoration.com/branches/salt-lake-city | 2026-10-29 |
| N2 | 911 Restoration Salt Lake City service-area pagehttps://www.911restoration.com/service-areas/salt-lake-city-ut | 2026-10-29 |
| R1 | Restoremasters homepagehttps://restoremastersut.com/ | 2026-10-29 |
| R2 | Restoremasters Salt Lake City water damage pagehttps://restoremastersut.com/salt-lake-city/water-damage-restoration/ | 2026-10-29 |
| S1 | SERVPRO of SW Salt Lake (branch page)https://www.servpro.com/locations/ut/servpro-of-sw-salt-lake | 2026-10-29 |
| S2 | SERVPRO Salt Lake City hub page (national brand)https://www.servpro.com/locations/ut/saltlakecity-restoration | 2026-10-29 |
| U1 | Utah Water and Fire homepagehttps://utahwaterandfire.com/ | 2026-10-29 |
| EPA | EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Homehttps://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home | 2026-10-29 |