Provider profile
Guardian Recovery Services
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Madison Heights and metro Detroit homeowners dealing with water damage or mold who want an owner-operated restoration company that fights insurance companies on their behalf.
Best for
- Metro Detroit homeowners facing basement flooding or sewage backup who need same-day emergency response.
- Homebuyers or sellers in Oakland County who need mold testing with lab results before closing.
- Homeowners whose insurance claim was denied or underpaid and want a restoration company willing to push back on the adjuster.
- Property owners dealing with attic mold caused by blocked ventilation or roofing issues.
- Commercial property managers needing air duct cleaning and indoor air quality testing on a maintenance schedule.
About this company
Guardian Recovery Services operates out of Madison Heights, Michigan, as a full-service restoration company handling mold, water damage, fire, and smoke jobs across metro Detroit. Owner Ben Barris runs the company with his wife Mary as CFO, and reviewers consistently name Ben as the person who shows up, answers the phone, and deals with insurance adjusters directly.
Their mold work uses HEPA air scrubbing, negative-pressure containment, and anti-microbial treatments following IICRC and NAMP guidelines. They run their own mold testing with lab analysis and offer third-party clearance examinations after remediation. For water damage, they deploy truck-mounted extraction units powered by 350-HP engines and use thermal imaging and moisture mapping to track drying progress. They also clean air ducts to NADCA standards.
The company has operated for over 15 years. Ben Barris grew up in the Fairgrounds area of Detroit. The team includes long-tenured field supervisors Thomas Watkins and Laron Bowden (each with nearly two decades of restoration experience), senior mold technician Justin Spangler, and mold remediator and inspector Zackary Peters. They position themselves as independent from insurance companies, meaning they do not steer work toward any particular insurer.
4.8 stars across 111 Google reviews is a strong rating for a restoration company. Multiple reviewers describe repeat use over several years, and the insurance advocacy theme runs through dozens of reviews. That kind of loyalty is unusual in an industry where most customers hope they never need the service again.
Services
Service area
Guardian Recovery Services is headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan, in Oakland County. Reviews reference jobs across metro Detroit suburbs including areas of Oakland County and surrounding communities. The website does not specify a service radius, so confirm coverage for locations more than 30 minutes from Madison Heights.
Review consensus
Ben Barris draws the most mentions by far. Reviewers describe him answering calls personally, showing up on-site, and negotiating with insurance adjusters. Multiple customers used Guardian twice or more, citing Ben by name both times. Zack (Zackary Peters) appears in mold-related reviews for inspections and explanations of findings. Josh C. earned praise for responsiveness on water damage calls. Terisa handles scheduling and gets named for coordination. The insurance advocacy theme is the strongest signal: reviewers repeatedly say Guardian "fought" their insurance company and won, handled claim paperwork, and communicated directly with adjusters. Emergency response speed also recurs, with several reviewers noting same-day or next-day arrival.
1 found across 111 total reviews at 4.8★. The only recent negative is a 1-star rating from Jessica Lynn with no written complaint. The owner responded that the reviewer's name does not appear in their customer records and asked for the review to be removed. With no complaint text and the owner's claim of no customer relationship, this single data point reveals nothing about service quality.
Guardian's review profile skews heavily toward water damage and insurance disputes rather than mold. Of the 56 positive reviews in the packet, the majority describe basement floods, pipe bursts, and sewage backups. Mold-specific reviews exist but are outnumbered roughly three to one. This suggests mold remediation is a real capability but not the primary driver of their reputation. The owner response on the sole negative review is specific and personalized, not a template.
Ben Barris (owner/CEO — praised in 15+ reviews for personal involvement, insurance advocacy, and emergency response). Zack/Zackary Peters (mold inspector/remediator — praised in 6+ reviews for knowledge and thorough explanations). Josh C. (technician — praised for responsiveness and going above expectations). Terisa Almore (scheduling coordinator — praised for coordination). Kyle (technician — praised for honesty). Anthony (technician — praised for mold remediation work). Tracy (staff — praised for care with personal belongings). Ron (program manager — praised for attic bat/guano remediation project). Reiner (technician — praised for mold check). Columbus (technician — praised for plumbing-related work). Renny (technician — praised for air duct cleaning).
Ask for Ben directly if your job involves an insurance claim. His personal involvement in negotiations is the single most consistent praise point across four years of reviews. For mold-specific work, ask whether Zack or Justin will handle your inspection and remediation, and request a third-party clearance test to keep the testing and remediation accountability separate.
Keep in mind
- Guardian does both mold testing and mold remediation. A company that finds the mold also profits from removing it. Ask whether they accept third-party test results or if you can hire an independent inspector.
- Several reviewers note the work is "not cheap." One described them as expensive but said the quality justified the cost. Get a written estimate before authorizing any work.
- The company lists fire damage, smoke damage, and textile cleaning alongside mold and water services. Breadth like this can mean mold is not the sole focus of the operation.
- Their Google listing categorizes them as a water damage restoration service, not a mold company. Mold work may be secondary to their water damage volume.
- The website lists two different phone numbers (248-927-1127 and 248-935-6088). Confirm which number reaches scheduling directly.