Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

Recently, the Cowleys Mold Solutions Team went on a service call to a residence in Belmar, NJ. The homeowner contacted us because of mold growth in his living room. 

Mold is an unwanted by-product of a water or moisture problem in a building. There is a long list of possible water intrusion events that goes well beyond flooding. Mold can form because of leaking pipes, dampness and humidity, especially in basements and crawl spaces, and rain seeping in because of damage to the roof, surrounding fascia boards, and around window frames. For many, exposure to mold can be harmful, leading to long-term chronic health problems, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions and other risk factors.

As we were putting on our personal protective equipment (mold is a serious biohazard in enclosed spaces) we asked the homeowner if he knew of any water intrusion on his property, such as a recently burst water pipe. This preliminary information helps us determine the underlying cause of the mold growth. We don’t just want to treat the current mold. We also want to fix the underlying problem so that mold doesn’t return. The homeowner informed us that a pipe did, in fact, burst in his living room while he was away at work. Fortunately, his son happened to come home early from work and was able to stop the water leak. Otherwise, the problem would have been much worse.

As we began our inspection in the living room, we immediately noticed mold growth around a particular window frame. Unfortunately, after a more detailed inspection, we found that the mold and water damage was more extensive than we first thought. Some of the drywall was so damaged that it had to be removed. If building materials have not lost their structural integrity, we can often just treat the mold. However, sometimes the water damage is too much. Here, we needed to remove some of the drywall, and we started to cut the drywall in those areas where the moisture and mold were most visible. Once the window trim was removed, we could see there was mold growth between the trim and the drywall that wrapped around most of the window. We kept cutting and removing the damaged building materials until we reached the undamaged areas of the drywall. 

After the damaged drywall was removed, we applied MAPS 1(Mold Abatement Polymer Solution 1), an EPA-registered anti-microbial. This application is specifically designed to kill active mold growth. We then scrubbed away the surface mold and applied MAPS 2, a patented polymer sealant that encapsulates the existing dead mold and prevents future mold from growing.

After we were finished with our treatment, the homeowner informed us that he scheduled an appointment with a contractor to install new drywall in the living room. Although no one likes these unexpected events, the homeowner was relieved that the dangerous mold growth was removed from his home and he could now move forward with the necessary repairs without worrying about any hidden mold.

Here in New Jersey, homes are often built with crawl space foundations rather than full basements. They are called crawl spaces for good reasons. Many have heights of three feet or less, so you can only get around hunched over or crawling on your hands and knees. They aren’t built with comfort in mind! The two main reasons for builders choosing crawl spaces are cost and accessibility. Crawl spaces are less costly to build than full basements. First, there is less excavation work. Second, many Jersey Shore areas have a high water table, and dry basements built below the water table have added costs. You must have a properly installed exterior water management system for groundwater control or basement flooding will be a constant headache. Sometimes, crawl spaces can be less expensive than building a concrete slab. For example, moving dirt to level a sloping lot can get expensive. As far as accessibility, crawl spaces provide access for electrical, plumbing, and ducts work for HVAC systems. With crawl spaces, these systems are easy to service for future maintenance and repairs. 

However, everything is not rainbows and butterflies when it comes to crawl spaces. First, they are rarely visited by homeowners and when problems underneath develop, they often go unnoticed for quite awhile. Contrary to what building scientists know today, most crawl spaces are vented, supposedly to get the moisture out. In fact, the opposite happens!  Moist, humid air, especially during our notoriously humid Jersey Shore summers, are sucked into the crawl space. Chronically high humidity and moisture in the crawl space leads to all sorts of problems. In this “tropical” environment, insect populations thrive and mold will start to grow. Often, homeowners don’t realize there is mold in their crawl space until the earthy, musty mold smells start wafting into the living areas of the home. When mold starts growing in the basement, the mold spores are carried everywhere on air currents. Mold can start growing elsewhere in the home and the home’s occupants can start developing mold-related respiratory problems. 

This home in Mantoloking, NJ, was experiencing high relative indoor humidity levels in the crawl space and the homeowner was concerned about the potential for mold growth and other moisture-related issues. He decided to deal with the issue rather than wait for problems to develop and contacted Cowleys to have his crawl space encapsulated. Cowleys has a dedicated team of technicians that convert damp crawl spaces into clean, dry areas where mold can’t grow.

With this home, we conducted a careful inspection to determine the problem areas and develop a treatment strategy. First, we had to remove all of the water-damaged insulation that was not salvageable. We then treated the crawl space for possible mold given the high moisture conditions. We treat indoor mold growth with two different applications, an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS1) followed by a patented sealant (MAPS2) that both kills mold on contact and reactivates to kill future mold growth. We then sealed all of the vents and encapsulated the entire crawl space with a thick vapor barrier. Finally, we installed a commercial-grade dehumidifier that will keep down humidity levels. Mold will only grow if there is sufficient moisture content in the air. With proper dehumidification, the mold is stopped in its tracks.

The homeowner was quite pleased with the end result and was relieved that he no longer had to worry about his problem crawl space. His only regret was not doing this work sooner!

Two members of the Mold Solutions by Cowleys crew arrived at a home in Spring Lake, NJ to treat extensive mold growth in the attic. The homeowners had belatedly found out that there was absolutely no ventilation in their attic space — and that’s a big problem! During the summer, attics can turn attics into saunas, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 120 or even 130 degrees. Without proper attic ventilation, moisture that rises up through the structure will condense in the attic, damaging studs and insulation, distorting and deteriorating roof shingles, radiating heat into the living spaces, and if that weren’t enough, trigger mold growth.

Prior to our arrival, the homeowners had their roof replaced and had made sure that the attic was being properly ventilated to prevent these problems from reoccurring. After gearing up, we first needed to remove and dispose of all the contaminated insulation. Once that was done, we applied our EPA-registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1, which attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it instantly. We then scrubbed away the mold and applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders the mold non-allergenic and harmless. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

Now, thanks to MAPS 1 & 2, mold will no longer be an issue in this home. 

Unfortunately, mold growth in non-living areas of the home is often not discovered until the pre-sale home inspection. For potential sellers, this unwelcome discovery can become a big headache that can potentially delay the sale until the mold problem is resolved. With this home in West Long Branch, NJ, mold was found in the basement utility room during the inspection. There was no plumbing leak or other water intrusion. Rather, mold had formed because of chronically high indoor humidity levels. High moisture levels in the air, which happens all too often in crawl spaces, basements, and attics, is more than enough to trigger dangerous mold growth!

This homeowner contacted Mold Solutions by Cowleys. Our team was able to treat the mold in less than a day. We treated the mold-affected areas of the basement with two applications. First, we applied an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented sealant available to licensed distributors (MAPS 2). This unique product not only kills expecting mold at the cellular level rendering it harmless and nonallergic, but also has moisture sensitivity. This sealant will reactivate to kill any future mold growth. We also wiped down any visible staining caused by the mold. Mold stains, residue of mold growth, are not themselves dangerous, but are unsightly and aesthetically unappealing.  

To control the humidity and prevent further mild growth, it is important to fix the underlying problem, which in this case, was high humidity levels. The seller chose to install a dehumidifier on his own as an accommodation to the purchaser. However, for homeowners looking for a powerful, long-term appliance, Cowleys carries SaniDry dehumidifiers. These rugged dehumidifiers are specially designed to work in basements and crawl spaces. They are maintenance-free — there is no water pan to empty and a built-in hygrometer constantly measures the room’s humidity, turning the machine on and off as needed. 

These homeowners in Rumson, NJ, while readying their home for sale, found surface mold growing in their basement, so they called us to come out and remove the mold.  We first treated the mold with our EPA-registered anti-microbial solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions ( or MAPS 1 for short). This product attacks mold at its DNA and kills it instantly. Next, we applied our patented polymer sealant called MAPS 2. This sealant encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it useless and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.