Provider profile
Restoration and Environmental Safety Technologies (REST Environmental)
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Oakland and Genesee County homeowners dealing with mold, asbestos, or vermiculite who want an owner-operated environmental testing and remediation company with NESHAP and AHERA credentials.
Best for
- Oakland, Macomb, and Genesee County homeowners who need both mold testing and remediation from a single company with environmental science credentials.
- Owners of older Michigan homes with suspected asbestos tile, pipe insulation, or vermiculite attic insulation who want help navigating the Zonolite trust fund reimbursement.
- Homebuyers or sellers who need fast-turnaround environmental testing to meet a real estate closing deadline.
- Property owners dealing with multiple environmental hazards in the same structure, such as mold plus asbestos, where a single company can handle both.
- Commercial building owners who need NESHAP-compliant asbestos surveys and abatement.
About this company
REST Environmental is an owner-operated environmental testing and remediation company based in Ortonville, Michigan, run by Greg Fahrenbruch. Their primary identity is dual-service: they test for and remove both mold and asbestos, plus a wide range of other hazardous materials including silica, lead, legionella, and sewage contamination. They also handle water damage restoration, interior demolition, and crawl space work. They serve both residential and commercial clients across the metro Detroit area and beyond.
What stands out is the breadth of their environmental testing. Their website lists testing for hundreds of chemicals and biological agents, including sewage, bacteria, E. coli, airborne chemicals, hydrocarbons, and cutting fluids. Their team holds NESHAP and AHERA asbestos inspection credentials, NIOSH 7400 and 582 asbestos air testing credentials, and their mold inspectors hold bachelor's degrees in science. They provide both viable and nonviable mold testing and re-test after remediation. They also help homeowners access the Zonolite Attic Insulation trust fund for vermiculite removal reimbursement, which multiple reviewers confirm saved them significant money.
Fahrenbruch founded the company in 2010 in Auburn Hills. His background includes a 1993 Ferris State degree in Industrial and Environmental Health, a 1998 master's in Organizational Management, and corporate safety director roles at Focus HOPE and Fortune 500 companies including Dow Chemical and Eaton Corporation. His wife Carrie works alongside him in the field. The company offers financing for larger projects.
4.7 stars across 78 Google reviews with zero negatives in the past 18 months is a strong signal. The review base includes multiple Local Guides and multi-review accounts, adding weight to the pattern. Reviewers consistently describe Greg spending extra time educating them rather than pushing services.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Ortonville, Michigan, in northern Oakland County. Their location pages list over 30 cities concentrated in Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, and Lapeer counties, including Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, Saginaw, Bay City, Troy, Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, Warren, Rochester Hills, Waterford, and Grosse Pointe. They claim to serve all of Michigan, but the bulk of their listed locations and reviewer geography clusters around the metro Detroit and Flint corridors.
Review consensus
Greg Fahrenbruch is named in the large majority of reviews and consistently praised for showing up the same day, spending extended time educating homeowners about their specific issues, and not pushing unnecessary services. Multiple reviewers specifically note that he told them they did not need work they expected to pay for. Jim Diener is named repeatedly for field execution on asbestos tile removal, mold remediation, and flooring work, with reviewers calling him efficient and detail-oriented. Travis is frequently paired with Jim and praised for speed and politeness. Carrie is named for hands-on field work including tile removal and vermiculite jobs. Miles is named alongside Jim for mold and mushroom extraction work. Ben is named once for basement work. Several reviewers mention competitive pricing compared to other quotes.
0 found across 78 total reviews at 4.7★. No recent negative reviews exist in the dataset. Zero 1-star, 2-star, or 3-star reviews were found in the last 18 months across 78 total reviews at 4.7 stars.
The consistent theme across reviews is that Greg personally handles the initial visit and spends significantly more time than expected educating homeowners. Multiple reviewers describe consultations that lasted an hour or more, where Greg pointed out issues throughout the house rather than limiting himself to the area they called about. This education-first approach appears to be a genuine operational pattern rather than a sales tactic, as several reviewers note he recommended against work they were prepared to pay for. The company also appears to have a referral network with waterproofing companies, with multiple reviewers mentioning they were referred by FSM or other basement waterproofing contractors.
Greg Fahrenbruch (owner — praised consistently for same-day response, extensive education, and honest recommendations). Jim Diener (technician/crew lead — praised for efficient and detailed work on tile removal, mold remediation, and flooring). Travis (technician — praised alongside Jim for speed, politeness, and careful work). Carrie (co-owner/field worker — praised for hands-on tile removal, vermiculite jobs, and communication). Miles (technician — praised alongside Jim for mold and mushroom extraction). Ben (technician — praised once for basement work alongside Jim). Mike Peel (former crew manager — praised for going the extra mile on basement concrete prep). Jason (former technician — praised for running team well on asbestos tile removal and recommending mold testing). Jean (office staff — praised for helpfulness, advice, and explaining the process).
Call and ask for Greg directly. He runs the initial inspections and tends to spend more time than you expect walking your property. If you have both mold and asbestos concerns, this company can handle both in one engagement, which simplifies coordination. But because they test and remediate, get your post-remediation clearance from a separate testing company to protect yourself.
Keep in mind
- They do both testing and remediation. While their testing staff hold science degrees and separate credentials, the same company profits from the remediation work they recommend. Consider getting an independent test from a company that does not also do removal.
- They claim to serve "all of Michigan" but are headquartered in Ortonville, north of metro Detroit. Their location pages concentrate on Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, and Lapeer counties, with some reaching to Ann Arbor, Saginaw, and Bay City. Confirm realistic travel time for your location.
- Their primary expertise is asbestos, with mold as a strong secondary focus. If you have a mold-only issue with no asbestos concern, make sure the scope of work and pricing reflect mold remediation specifically.
- They offer financing, which is unusual for this industry. Understand the terms before signing, especially whether the financing is through a third party.
- Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM only. No weekend or after-hours availability is listed.