Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

A homeowner’s hot water heater had cracked open in Jackson, NJ, flooding her basement. Within days, there was extensive mold growth on walls, ceiling, door, and even on some furnishings. If there is excess moisture or water, mold will grow on virtually anything. Mold lives off plant materials, and most of our building materials are wood products. Mold is especially attracted to drywall and acoustical tiling. Also, mold spores easily travel on air currents throughout the home, and the mold growing in the basement would inevitably spread throughout the home as the spores reattach elsewhere.

We arrived at the house, conducted an inspection to determine the scope of the problem and how to best treat the affected areas to contain the mold growth. We treated the surfaces with an anti-microbial that kills surface mold and airborne mold spores. We then removed all of the structurally damaged building materials. Often, we find mold growth on building materials that are not damaged. In those cases, we can resolve the mold problem without extensive removal of materials. We then applied our sealant that coats and kills the mold that prevents the spread of spores. In addition, this sealant is moisture sensitive and reactivates to kill any future mold growth. So, when we finish a mold project, we’ve not only removed the mold but we’ve also prevented mold from returning to those areas. For long-term mold control, I always stress to homeowners the importance of controlling indoor humidity levels by investing in a commercial-grade dehumidifier. Mold growth is not limited to water problems like flooding and leaky pipes. A mold problem can also result if there is excess moisture from high humidity levels.

A homeowner’s hot water heater had cracked open in Jackson, NJ, flooding her basement causing extensive mold growth. We treated the affected areas with our EPA registered solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1, also called MAPS 1. This product 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 mold non-allergenic and harmless. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

Just like in basements and crawl spaces, mold will grow in attics with consistently high relative humidity levels or, as I believe what happened in this home, a significant water intrusion from a roof leak. Although the roof leak had been repaired, the problem was that because of poor attic ventilation, mold had formed and colonized on the water-saturated wood. 

We treated the affected areas with our EPA registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1, which attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it instantly. Next, we 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.

A homeowner in Metuchen, NJ, was in the process of selling his home and during the home inspection, mold growth was found in the crawl space. There was groundwater seepage into the crawl space and high humidity levels making this enclosed area of the home the perfect environment for mold growth.  The homeowner contacted Mold Solutions by Cowleys and we were sent out. \

We treated the affected areas with 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.

In addition, when there is mold growth, it is important to identify and fix the underlying issues causing the mold growth in the first place. With groundwater seepage, we recommend crawl space encapsulation and, of course, an efficient dependable sump pump. To keep down humidity levels, the only effective long-term solution is dehumidification. Here, the sellers asked us to install a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier to keep down moisture in the air, so mold would be unable to form. 

The SaniDry dehumidifiers that we install and service are made with commercial-grade components. They are specifically designed to operate in basements and crawl spaces where humidity levels, especially during the summer, can skyrocket. These dehumidifiers operate automatically with a built-in hygrometer, and they empty into the drainage system, so there is no water pan to empty. 

Our process was more than enough to give the prospective buyers complete assurance that the crawl space mold was no longer an issue and the sale of the home continued without any issues.