Job Stories

A homeowner in Point Pleasant, NJ contacted Cowleys and wanted to install a 6 mil polyethylene (poly) vapor barrier in his crawl space in order to limit the moisture. Sealing an open crawl space with a vapor barrier can prevent moisture accumulation in your home, which can prevent wood rot and mold from developing.   Once we arrived, we equipped our personal protective equipment and began inspecting the crawl space. Unfortunately, within a few moments of our inspection, we found mold all over the floor joists. After measuring the moisture in the crawl space with our moisture reader, which is a device used to measure the moisture content in the pores of the wood, we determined that the cause of the mold was due to excessive moisture in the basement.    One of the main causes of mold in a crawl space, attic, or basement, is high moisture levels. Mold is a living, breathing fungus that multiplies and will continue to spread as long as the conditions in the home remain conducive to mold growth. In cases where there is structural damage from the moisture, materials would need to be removed. However, in this case, there was no structural damage so, with our treatment process, we are able to kill mold in its place.  First, we removed all the debris from the crawl space and then installed the 6 mil poly vapor barrier. After installing the vapor barrier, we applied an EPA-registered, non-toxic antimicrobial solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1 (MAPS 1). MAPS 1 breaks down mold at a cellular level and kills it instantly. Once that solution dried, we applied a patented sealant (MAPS 2), This moisture-sensitive sealant encapsulates mold, rendering it inert, harmless, and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 reactivates when it gets moist to prevent the growth of any future mold colonies. The homeowner wasn’t happy that he had mold in his basement, but was relieved that we treated it. 

This homeowner in Carteret, NJ had a water intrusion in her first-floor bathroom because of a leaky pipe and had gone unnoticed for quite some time. This triggered extensive mold growth behind the sheetrock. First, we removed the water-damaged sheetrock that had lost its structural integrity and could not be salvaged. Next, we applied our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This treatment attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold growth. Lastly, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2, which is a moisture-sensitive application that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. After killing the mold dead in its tracks, we replaced the sheetrock with a new piece!  

Recently, a crew from Cowleys Mold Solutions team was sent to a home in Cape May, NJ. The home was originally built with a crawl space, but at some point, to increase the usable space, the homeowner had converted the crawl space into a finished basement. Conversions of crawl space to basements are a significant construction project that involve excavating the soil under the home and constructing new footings and foundation walls. Although crawl spaces are notorious trouble spots for homeowners since they are infrequently inspected and problems down below can go unnoticed until they start to affect the living areas of the home, basements can be a problem for mold as well.  Just like with crawl spaces, basements are usually subterranean and are prone to mold growth because of high indoor relative humidity levels. In addition to humidity problems, basement mold can be triggered by flooding, groundwater intrusion through cracks in a home’s foundation, and leaky pipes. With this Cape May residence, the problem was a water pipe leak. As long as there is water or moisture, mold will grow on any organic material, even processed wood. Those pungent “musky” smells we associate with mold are the gasses released by mold’s dissolving enzymes. When mold grows in basements or crawl spaces, the mold spores travel on air currents to the living spaces of the home and reattach there. A home’s entire indoor air quality is harmed by mold. Even though this was a finished basement and problems are usually found more quickly. These homeowners were elderly and had limited mobility. In recent years, they stopped venturing down into the basement. This water leak could have easily gone on for a month or two before the couple realized they had a mold problem. One important lesson from this job is that if you know of elderly homeowners, a friend or family member should periodically check their residence for possible insect or mold problems. The elderly often do not notice these problems in their early stages, and it is only after things get really bad that they take notice. With mold, a delay can turn what could have been a smaller, localized problem turns into an extensive mold removal project. Because of the delay in treating the mold and underlying water problem, the basement paneling was ruined/ We needed to do a full-tear out of these materials. Fortunately, although the paneling had to be removed, all of the other building materials were structurally sound. Often, with our mold treatment process, we can avoid removal of all building materials. As long as there is no loss of structural integrity we treat the mold right where it sits. However, like here, once materials are damaged, they must be removed.  After tearing out the water-destroyed paneling, we treated the beams and all of the affected areas by applying our EPA-registered anti-microbial (MAPS 1) which kills any surface mold as well as any airborne mold spores. We then applied our patented polymer sealant (MAPS 2). Any treated mold is rendered inert, harmless, and non-allergenic. The sealant is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated areas. 

We were sent out on a service call to a new customer in Pennington, NJ, who found mold all over the concrete walls of his basement. Since it has been quite rainy recently in New Jersey, an abundance of water accumulated around the home. Concrete is porous, so it can hold water and provide a water source for mold to colonize, which is exactly what happened to this homeowner! We equipped our personal protected equipment and then treated the affected areas with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution attacks mold at its DNA and immediately kills it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. Lastly, we applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergic. MAPS 2 is also moisture sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth.

After our Pest Control Division had removed all the mice from the crawl space of this home in Neshanic Station, NJ, we were sent our to eliminate the massive amount of mold growth throughout the area. There was an extremely high level of moisture in the crawl space because of the dirt floor. Soil and dirt from the earth contain moisture and since moisture forms so easily in confined areas, dirt crawl spaces are fertile breeding grounds for mold! The homeowner didn't even bother checking in his crawl space for weeks, which was plenty of time for the mold to grow. First, we applied our EPA-registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. MAPS stands for Mold Abatement Polymer solutions and targets mold at its DNA and immediately kills it! We then used our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the excess mold staining throughout the joists, and applied MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it inert, harmless, and non-allergenic. It's also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth.  Lastly, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona commercial grade dehumidifier in the crawl space. These dehumidifiers cost less to run than other dehumidifiers, cover over 3000 square feet, and are energy efficient.

A homeowner in Trenton, NJ, found mold growth in her bathroom, and she contacted Mold Solutions By Cowleys. Thois small, enclosed bathroom had no window to let in outdoor air and no ceiling vent. Without proper ventilation, after every shower, water vapor is left lingering in the air. It is a situation ripe for mold growth. If that wasn’t asking for mold trouble, there was a pipe leak underneath the vanity that had gone undetected for quite some time. These water and moisture sources created an environment for mold to grow, thrive, and spread. When the two-person Mold Solution crew arrived, we found extensive mold growth beneath the vanity and on the walls. There was a small crevice between the vanity and the bathtub where we found fungus hanging off of the vanity itself! We applied an antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented sealant (MAPS 2) that kills existing mold upon contact. This sealant is moisture-sensitive and reactivates to kill any future mold growth in the treated areas should there be another water or humidity problem. As part of our mold treatment process, we thoroughly scrub down all hard surfaces to remove visible mold growth.

After purchasing a new property in Lawrence Township, NJ, this customer discovered a severe amount of mold in the basement! After equipping our PPE, we began inspecting the home and found the mold growth underneath the stairs in the basement, all over the concrete walls, and even behind several picture frames on the wall! After finishing our inspection, we removed all the contaminated materials and treated the area with Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions (MAPS) 1. MAPS 1 is EPA registered antimicrobial that attacks mold on a cellular level and instantly kills it. Next, we applied or mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. Lastly, we treated the entire basement with MAPS 2. This moisture-sensitive patented sealant encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it inert and non-allergenic. It'll also reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. Now the property is free from any hazardous mold growth and the homeowner can start her renovations.

Can you image returning home from work only to find out that a pipe in your second story bathroom had burst, flooded your bathroom, and caused mold to grow all over your first floor ceiling and walls? Well, that is exactly what happened to this customer in Lawrence Township, NJ! Once the leak was repaired, the owner called our office and we were sent out.  When we arrived and inspected the home, we noticed several mold stains on the ceiling and walls of the first floor living room and the second story bathroom. The mold growth was so severe that we had no choice but to do a full on mold remediation treatment. This means we have to remove every single mold contaminated item throughout the home! Once we did, we treated the second floor and the living room with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution targets mold at its DNA and immediately kills it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. Lastly, we applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergic. MAPS 2 is also moisture sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth. Now that the mold is gone, the homeowner can hire a contractor to repair the areas in his home. 

After noticing mold growing on several areas in his crawl space, this customer in Gladstone, NJ called our office for an inspection and treatment. When we arrived and started inspecting the area, not only did we find mold on several joists, but almost every single piece of insulation was contaminated with mold! What caused the mold growth? High humidity levels in the crawl space! First, we removed and disposed of all the contaminated insulation and then treated the entire crawl space with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution targets mold at its DNA and immediately kills it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. Next, we treated the crawl space with MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergic. MAPS 2 is also moisture sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth. Next, we installed ComfortTherm® insulation. ComfortTherm® insulation provides excellent temperature and noise control, and comes with a vapor-retarder for use in hot, humid climates. Lastly, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona commercial-grade dehumidifier. The Sedona directs the extracted water pulled out of the air directly into the sump pump and will control the humidity levels in the crawl space.  

A new customer in Bridgewater, NJ, called our office after finding a massive amount of mold in her attic! Once we arrived and equipped our Personal Protective Equipment, we inspected the attic and, low and behold, we found mold all over almost every single rafter. Turns out, there was a leak in the roof! Roof leaks may not be noticed until the leak progresses enough to damage the top floor's ceiling, and by that point, the attic's mold growth could be extensive. Fortunately, the leak wasn't too bad and the homeowner knew a roofer who would come out once we finished our treatment process.  First, we treated every square inch of the attic with MAPS 1, which is an EPA registered antimicrobial. MAPS 1 attacks mold at its DNA and kills it immediately. Using our mold stain remover, we removed all the mold stains and applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant. MAPS 2 encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergic. MAPS 2 also reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth.