SweetWater Restoration

What SweetWater Restoration does

SweetWater Restoration Inc. is a family-owned disaster restoration and general contracting firm founded in 1985 in Houston, Texas by Don Brewer as Coastal Reconstruction Inc. and rebranded in 1986 after restoring a Jacksonville apartment community damaged by a Christmas Eve fire. Operating from its Jacksonville, Florida headquarters and an Orlando-area branch in Altamonte Springs, the company delivers four interconnected service lines: Insurance Disaster Reconstruction (emergency response through full reconstruction coordinated with insurance carriers), Disaster Planning & Education, Discovery investigations using advanced moisture detecting and infrared equipment, and Exterior Rehabilitation & Waterproofing. Under the parallel SweetWater Contractors brand it also performs non-claim work including large-scale capital improvements, clubhouse remodels, tenant improvements, and exterior rehabs for multifamily and senior-living operators, served by a field sales motion targeting property owners and managers across ten-plus southeastern states where the firm holds Class A general contractor licensure.

Revenue is generated through two professional-services streams: insurance-claim reconstruction where compensation flows from carrier settlements (with policyholders typically only paying deductibles via the cost-free SweetWater Response Program), and commercial general-contracting projects for property owners and management companies. The Response Program functions as a zero-fee membership product that guarantees four-hour arrival plus a five-day scope of work, converting enrolled customers into recurring post-event and capital-improvement work. An ancillary consumer extension, SweetWater Coffee (launched 2021 with the Black Badger blend and later a hurricane-season Rapid In-Caffeination edition), diversifies brand presence without contributing materially to the contractor core. Ownership and executive leadership are concentrated in the Brewer family (founder Don with sons Jake as CEO, Matt as COO, Ben as CMO), supplemented by professional VPs of Sales (Ben Zeigler), Operations (Bill Bernhardt), Finance (Nick Molinaro), and a Chief of Staff, with named enterprise customers spanning Greystar, Allegro Senior Living, Insetta Family Properties, and the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

Name

SweetWater Restoration

Legal name

SweetWater Restoration Inc.

Website

https://sweetwaterrestoration.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SweetWater Restoration is a family-owned disaster restoration and general contracting firm serving property owners, managers, and senior-living operators across the southeastern United States with insurance-driven reconstruction, emergency response, and commercial capital improvement services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disaster Restoration Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822), Remediation Services (562910)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Recovery & Restoration General Contracting (IMAFAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Mitigation & Site Stabilization (Board-Up, Tarping, Water Extraction) (HSAPAOAA), Insurance Claims Estimation, Documentation & Managed Repair (HSAPAOAL), Structural Repair & Framing Reconstruction (HSAPAOAG), Storm & Hail Exterior Restoration (Roof/Siding/Gutters) (HSAPAKAM)

Keywords

• Disaster restoration services
• Insurance reconstruction contracting
• Commercial general contracting
• Multifamily property renovation
• Emergency response restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Insurance Disaster Reconstruction: Revenue generated through insurance claim settlements. SweetWater Restoration is compensated through the amount settled with the insurance company with no out-of-pocket expense for Response Program members other than their deductible.
2. General Contracting Services: Revenue from large-scale capital improvements, clubhouse remodels, exterior rehabs, tenant improvements, and commercial construction projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SweetWater Restoration is a family-owned disaster restoration and general contracting firm that performs insurance-driven reconstruction of properties damaged by fire, water, wind and other perils, supported by a 4-hour guaranteed Response Program, pre-disaster planning, moisture/infrared Discovery investigations and exterior rehabilitation/waterproofing services. The contractor side delivers large-scale capital improvements, clubhouse remodels, exterior rehabs and tenant improvements for commercial and multifamily properties. Operations are based in Jacksonville, FL and Altamonte Springs, FL, licensed across the southeastern United States.

Product overview

SweetWater Restoration is a family-owned disaster restoration and construction company spanning two generations. The company operates two distinct service divisions: (1) Restoration Services, which includes Insurance Disaster Reconstruction, Disaster Planning & Education, Discovery (moisture/infrared investigation), Exterior Rehabilitation & Waterproofing, and the SweetWater Response Program offering guaranteed 4-hour emergency response; and (2) Contractor/Builder Services through sweetwatercontractors.com covering Large-Scale Capital Improvements, Clubhouse Remodels, Tenant Improvements, and Exterior Rehabs. Additionally, the company has launched SweetWater Coffee as a consumer product extension, featuring signature blends like Black Badger and Rapid In-Caffeination. The company is licensed throughout the southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas) and operates from headquarters in Jacksonville, FL and a branch in Altamonte Springs, FL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SweetWater Coffee: Signature coffee brand launched in 2021 featuring blends including Black Badger and Rapid In-Caffeination. Beans sourced from farms worldwide and roasted in Chicago.

Products and services

• Insurance Disaster Reconstruction Full-service disaster restoration from emergency response through complete reconstruction, coordinating with insurance carriers to restore properties damaged by fire, water, wind or other covered perils.
• Disaster Planning & Education Pre-disaster planning services including group education, seminars and one-on-one strategic planning to help property owners and managers prepare for emergency situations.
• Discovery (Moisture & Infrared Investigation) Property investigation using advanced moisture detecting equipment and infrared devices to locate potential problem areas and determine the extent of damage.
• Exterior Rehabilitation & Waterproofing Complete interior renovations to total removal and replacement of exterior finishes, including waterproofing services to protect properties from water intrusion.
• SweetWater Response Program Priority-status disaster response program guaranteeing arrival within four hours of an emergency call, providing immediate assessment, boarding, emergency fencing, lighting, power, cleanup, and a detailed scope of work within five days. No membership cost; compensated through insurance settlement.
• Large-Scale Capital Improvements Major construction projects for commercial property owners and managers, handling every aspect from design through final completion with a comprehensive plan tailored to client needs.
• Clubhouse Remodels Apartment and multifamily community clubhouse renovation services transforming common spaces into modern, inviting environments to attract new residents and create lasting first impressions.
• Tenant Improvements Design and build services for property additions and improvements, including custom renovations, office space updates and complete exterior remodeling to meet growing demands.
• Exterior Rehabs Building facade and exterior upgrades including facade updates and finish replacements that enhance curb appeal and long-term property value.
• Black Badger Coffee Flagship multi-country coffee blend sourced from Guatemala, Brazil and Colombia, roasted in Chicago by a boutique master roaster. Named after the corporate office location on Badger Park Drive in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Rapid In-Caffeination Coffee Limited edition coffee blend sourced from high elevations of Mexico's Sierra Norte region, created for the 2026 hurricane season with notes of brown sugar and praline.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-hour guaranteed arrival on-site for emergency calls
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Master Roaster (Chicago)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, SweetWater Restoration partnered with a master roaster in Chicago to create their signature coffee blend, Black Badger. The partnership was inspired by the company's passion for coffee and led to the development of their SweetWater Coffee line featuring beans sourced from farms worldwide.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BELFOR Property Restoration: The largest global disaster restoration and reconstruction company. Directly comparable to SweetWater in providing fire/water/storm damage restoration and insurance-coordinated reconstruction, but operates at far greater national and international scale.
• Servpro Industries: Franchise-based leader in residential and commercial disaster restoration with thousands of owner-operated franchises. Competes with SweetWater for the same insurance-driven fire and water restoration work, with stronger national brand and carrier relationships.
• Cotton Holdings: Diversified disaster response, restoration, and logistics firm serving commercial, industrial, and government clients. Comparable in providing insurance-coordinated reconstruction and large-loss disaster response at greater geographic scale.
• FirstOnsite Property Restoration: North American commercial and multifamily restoration and reconstruction company. Comparable to SweetWater's multifamily/senior living customer base and insurance-coordinated reconstruction model, with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Paul Davis Restoration: Franchised disaster restoration and remodeling services company. Closely mirrors SweetWater's insurance-coordinated reconstruction model with emergency response, mitigation, and full reconstruction services for residential and commercial clients.
• PuroClean: Franchised property damage restoration company specializing in fire, water, mold, and biohazard remediation. Direct competitor for the same insurance restoration customer base SweetWater serves, with overlapping Southeast franchise presence.
• Blackmon Mooring / BMS CAT: Restoration and reconstruction company specializing in commercial fire and water damage recovery. Directly comparable to SweetWater in commercial property restoration, with similar Southeast footprint and insurance carrier relationships.
• Interstate Restoration: National commercial restoration and reconstruction contractor serving multifamily, hospitality, and commercial real estate clients. Closely comparable to SweetWater's contractor services and insurance restoration model, with focus on large-loss commercial work.

Regional players

• Dry Force: Regional water damage and restoration company serving Florida and the Southeast. Overlaps with SweetWater's geographic territory and emergency response service model in water mitigation and reconstruction.
• Elite Restoration: Southeast US-focused disaster restoration contractor serving multifamily and commercial properties. Competes directly with SweetWater for property management and insurance restoration work in overlapping Florida/Georgia markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/swrestore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sweetwater-restoration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SweetWater Restoration