Provider profile
FIRST ONSITE Property Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
St. Louis metro property owners needing a single contractor for water damage, mold remediation, and full reconstruction, especially insurance-referred commercial and multifamily jobs.
Best for
- St. Louis metro commercial or multifamily property managers who need water damage mitigation, mold remediation, and reconstruction handled under one contract.
- Insurance-referred homeowners whose carrier already has a relationship with First Onsite and wants a single vendor for the entire claim.
- Large or complex losses where the ability to mobilize hundreds of workers through a national network matters more than local ownership.
- Property owners who need contents pack-out, storage, and restoration alongside structural remediation.
About this company
FIRST ONSITE is a national restoration company with 110+ offices across North America, and their St. Louis branch operates out of Maryland Heights. This is not a local shop. They are owned by FirstService Corporation, a publicly traded Canadian property services company. The St. Louis office has served the metro area for over 30 years, and the website states their crew averages 10 years of experience apiece.
Mold remediation is one piece of a much larger service menu. They handle water damage, fire and smoke restoration, contents pack-out, HVAC duct cleaning, asbestos abatement, and full reconstruction. Their mold process includes containment with negative air pressure, removal, disinfection, and repair. The St. Louis team carries IICRC certifications and follows NADCA specifications for duct cleaning. They also run a contents division that handles electronics, documents, and personal property, including storage in a climate-controlled facility.
The company started in 1998 as Interstate Restoration in San Antonio, grew through acquisitions, and became First Onsite under FirstService Corporation in 2019. The St. Louis location predates the rebrand and was previously known as CATCO, based on older reviews.
At 3.8 stars on Google across 52 reviews, this office sits below the 4.5 threshold where most buyers feel comfortable. The positive reviews are genuinely strong, but the negatives describe serious project management failures, and the company has not responded to any of the recent complaints.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Maryland Heights, Missouri, serving the greater St. Louis metro area. The website names St. Louis City, West County, North County, South County, Franklin County, Lincoln County, Madison County, Jefferson County, and St. Clair County. As a national company with 110+ locations, they claim coverage across all 50 states and Canada, but the St. Louis office team is local to the metro area.
Review consensus
Micah Jacquemin is the most frequently named employee, appearing in at least 10 positive reviews spanning 2022 through 2025. Reviewers describe him as responsive, detail-oriented, and willing to handle warranty work months after project completion. Ken Fahey earned specific praise from Cindy for being responsive, collaborative, and clear in his explanations. Steve Becker was highlighted for his work in the contents division. Bill and his team were praised for speed and communication at a senior living community. Mary appears across multiple reviews in an office coordination role, consistently described as prompt with paperwork. Michael and Andy were noted for quick response and attention to detail. Multiple reviewers mention that First Onsite handled insurance paperwork directly, reducing stress during the claims process.
4 found across 52 total reviews at 3.8★. Kyle ODonnell describes a condo restoration after a sewer backup that spiraled into a months-long ordeal. The scope was roughly 1,100 square feet of flooring, two bathrooms, drywall, and paint. He reports the project took over 10 months, with sloppy workmanship documented in 600+ photos, reuse of demolished materials billed as new, failure to obtain permits on time, and unprofessional communication from laborers up through corporate counsel. William Ly describes a roof tarp that was improperly secured, causing additional water damage to multiple apartments, with slow communication and poor follow-up. Lisa Ceddia was referred by her insurance company for an estimate, but First Onsite declined the work after a week of silence, and the person who finally contacted her was rude. Major M. reported a company driver running people off the road early in the morning.
The gap between positive and negative experiences here maps to a specific pattern: reviewers who landed with Micah or Ken as their project manager report smooth, communicative projects. The negative reviews describe situations where project management attention appears to have been absent or stretched thin. This is consistent with a national company that takes on multiple contracts simultaneously. The 0% owner response rate on recent negatives is notable for a company of this size, suggesting the St. Louis office is not actively managing its online reputation.
Micah Jacquemin (project manager -- consistently positive across 10+ reviews). Ken Fahey (project manager -- positive, praised for communication and collaboration). Steve Becker (contents division -- positive). Bill (team lead -- positive, praised at senior living project). Mary (office staff/coordinator -- positive across multiple reviews). Michael (field staff -- positive). Andy (field staff -- positive). Rich V (field staff -- positive). Garrett (field staff -- positive). Jaelin (field staff -- positive). Jon Stetzel (field staff -- positive, praised for flexibility). Mary D (staff -- positive). Isaiah (field staff -- positive, praised for keeping customers informed). Mike (field staff -- positive). Marsha (contents -- positive). Chris (staff -- positive). Steve (field staff -- positive, initial assessments).
If you go with First Onsite for mold work in St. Louis, ask specifically for Micah Jacquemin or Ken Fahey as your project manager. The positive reviews are almost entirely tied to named staff who clearly care about their work. Get everything in writing, including the timeline, scope, and completion milestones, because the negative pattern here is strong initial engagement followed by disappearing follow-through once the contract is signed.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. When the same company identifies the problem and sells the fix, there is a financial incentive to find more mold or recommend more work. Get an independent assessment from a separate inspector before agreeing to a remediation scope.
- The Google rating is 3.8 stars across 52 reviews. Four recent 1-star reviews describe poor workmanship, delayed timelines, and communication that drops off after the contract is signed. The company responded to none of them.
- Several reviewers note that initial responsiveness was strong but follow-through deteriorated once the contract was in place. Kyle ODonnell documented a condo restoration that stretched 10+ months for what should have been a shorter job, with sloppy work and attempts to charge for incomplete items.
- This is a national franchise-style operation, not a locally owned business. Your experience depends heavily on which project manager is assigned. Reviewers who worked with Micah or Ken report dramatically different outcomes than those who did not.
- Administration office is closed on evenings and weekends. Emergency services are available 24/7, but scheduling and communication happen during business hours only.