Job Stories

Recently, a two-person crew from Cowleys Mold Solutions division was sent to a home in Englishtown, NJ  to treat a mold problem that had developed in the garage. This was one of those cases that highlight that the water or moisture intrusion event that triggers mold growth can be almost anything. Here, the homeowners had a pinhole leak in their dryer vent that vented into the garage instead of venting outside.  When the warm dryer air hit the cool garage wall, the moisture condensed and formed water droplets. That was enough to trigger mold growth. Once there is water and the right temperature, all mold needs is some organic material to feed on. Mold “food” includes processed building materials like sheetrock. As you can see from the attached photos, speckled black mold had formed on the wall. This homeowners replaced the dryer vent and contacted Cowleys to resolve the mold problem. Even though the mold was in the garage, the microscopic mold spores can circulate anywhere and eventually find their way into the living areas of the home. The mold had to be treated or it would continue to spread.  Generally, when treating mold with our process, it is not necessary to remove building materials, including sheetrock, unless they are water-damaged and there is a loss of structural integrity. Here, the underlying sheetrock was still in good condition despite the mold growth.  As such, the homeowners were able to avoid an extensive tear out/renovation project. Instead, we were able to treat the mold directly and leave the building materials alone.  We treated the mold-affected areas of the garage with two different applications. First, we applied an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1). We then followed that application with a patented proprietary sealant (MAPS 2). This product, available only to authorized licensees, encapsulates the mold and kills it on contact. Any mold treated with this sealant is rendered harmless and non-allergenic. The sealant kills not only the existing mold. It is moisture-sensitive and has the ability to reactivate and kill any future mold growth as well.  With this particular assignment, we were able to successfully and completely treat the mold in less than a day. These homeowners, like many, have heard horror stories about finding mold in homes and they were worried about what may be entailed to rid their home of mold. Needless to say, these homeowners were relieved to find a mold treatment process that effectively and permanently treated the mold while avoiding the expense and hassle of removing the mold-affected sheetrock.  

A Mold Solution team was sent to a home in Metuchen, NJ. The homeowner had extensive mold growth in her attic. Although mold is commonly found in basements and crawl spaces, attics can also be a mold trouble spot as well. Just like in basements and crawl spaces, homeowners can find themselves with mold in their attic for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, attic mold is caused by chronically high indoor humidity levels, especially in those attics with poor ventilation or non-working attic fans This particular home had a significant water intrusion from a roof leak. Although the leak was repaired, the problem was that because of poor attic ventilation, mold had formed on the water-saturated wood. And the poor attic ventilation exacerbated the problem. We first treated the attic by applying our EPA-registered anti-microbial (MAPS 1). This application kills surface mold and airborne mold spores. Next, we scrubbed off any visible mold. Mold stains are a residue from mold enzymes. They are not harmful or allergenic. However, they look horrible, especially when it comes time to sell the home. Prospective buyers are always cautious about mold growth in the non-living spaces of the home. We then applied our patented polymer sealant (MAPS 2). This unique sealant destroys any mold at the cellular level. It is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated areas.  To prevent mold from returning to the attic, it is important to address those underlying problems that facilitated the mold growth in the first place. Ensuring good air circulation in the attic is essential in order to prevent moisture buildup. A key part of any attic ventilation system are having soffits and gables with built-in vents that allow proper air circulation. Especially during the summer, these vents exchange cooler air from outside the house with the hot, humid air collecting in the attic. This prevents water vapor from collecting on roof sheathing and rafters, eventually causing rot wood and triggering mold growth. Also, air inside attics can reach temperatures that can warp and damage roof shingles. You also need attic air flow during the winter to prevent ice dams from forming on the roof. Blocked soffit vents will stop airflow and trap humid air, creating an environment perfect for mold growth. Even well-insulated attics need good air circulation. With this Metuchen home, we wanted to ensure that the attic had good airflow by installing plastic baffles (also called wind baffles, venting chutes, rafter vents, or insulation baffles) in the rafter bays. Baffles establish a pathway for air to circulate between insulation and the roof sheathing. They prevent insulation from restricting air movement and allow air to circulate under or near the insulation. It is common for wind blowing through soffit vents to disturb the insulation by moving it out of place and blocking the vents, especially with blown loose fiber insulation. Baffles act as screens to separate the insulation from the air currents blowing through the vents. Also, baffles allow you to insulate the entire attic floor space. Without them, you have to keep the vents clear of insulation, so a portion of the attic stays unprotected. We finished up this mold job in less than a day, and with our treatment process, the homeowner avoided extensive, expensive renovations. This attic is now mold-free, and more important, will remain mold-free. We advised this homeowner, as we would any homeowner that had attic mold, to periodically inspect the attic for roof leaks, to monitor the attic’s humidity levels, and to make sure that the attic fan is in good working condition.

We were sent out to a condominium unit in Freehold, NJ to handle a severe mold problem in the crawl space of one of the units. As soon as we entered the crawl space, we found mold in almost every single piece of insulation and along the joists. What caused the mold growth? Extremely high humidity levels in the crawl space. First, we needed to clean out the crawl space and remove all the contaminated insulation and materials. Once that was done we treated the entire crawl space with our EPA-registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold growth throughout the crawl space. Afterward, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is a moisture-sensitive application that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. One of the best features of MAPS 2 is that it will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent 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. Finally, to address the high humidity levels in the crawl space, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona commercial grade dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers cost less to run than other dehumidifiers, cover over 3000 square feet, are energy efficient, and will properly control the humidity levels in the crawl space.

After a heavy rainstorm, this homeowner in Freehold, NJ had a flooding issue in his basement. Although he successfully cleaned up all the moisture as quickly as he could, because the humidity levels were so high, mold had developed behind the molding throughout the area. After seeing us treat his neighbors home for mold, he gave our office a call, and we were sent out. Fortunately, only the molding was contaminated and needed to be removed and disposed of, so we did just that. Afterward, we treated the entire basement with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution targets mold at its DNA and immediately kills it. Next, 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. To control the humidity levels in the basement, we installed a commercial-grade dehumidifier. This dehumidifier can effectively cover indoor living spaces over 3000 square feet, making it well-suited for basements and crawl spaces over 40" high!

As this homeowner in Freehold, NJ went into his attic to take down some boxes, he found a large amount of mold growth all over the rafters. After seeing our ad in the Clipper Magazine, he called our office and we were sent out to inspect and treat. After a thorough inspection of the attic, we realized that the mold had grown due to poor ventilation in the attic. Why was there poor ventilation? All the attic fans were broken. Attics provide an ideal environment for mold since they contain plenty of food sources such as wood and insulation. Leaky roofs, condensation from fluctuating temperatures, leaky pipes, and/or poor ventilation can provide mold with the moisture it needs to grow. First, we equipped our personal protective equipment and applied MAPS 1 throughout the attic. MAPS stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions, and is an EPA registered antimicrobial that'll target mold at its DNA and immediately kill it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the mold stains, and applied MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergic and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth. Lastly, we replaced all the broken attic fans with new ones in order to regulate the humidity in the attic.

We were recently sent out to a home in Freehold, NJ, to treat for severe black mold growth throughout the basement. Apparently, during a heavy rainstorm, the basement flooded and the water stayed present in the area for quite some time. That, combined with the high humidity already present in the basement, created the perfect condition for mold to grow - and boy did it grow! We found mold on the concrete walls, on the bottom of the wooden paneling, the joists, and even on several shelves! Unfortunately, the structural integrity of the sheetrock, insulation, and wooden paneling was so comprised, that it needed to be removed and disposed of, so we did just that! Once all the contaminated materials were removed and carefully disposed of, we 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. Next, 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. Lastly, to control the high humidity levels in the basement, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona commercial grade dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers cost less to run than other dehumidifiers, cover over 3000 square feet, and are energy efficient.

This owner in Freehold, NJ, had a massive flood in his laundry room due to a pipe bursting behind the washing machine. Although it was fixed, mold had developed all over the place. Due to the fact that the structural integrity of the sheetrock and wooden beams were comprised from the mold, at the owners request, a tear out was needed. Once all the contaminated materials were removed and carefully disposed of, we treated the affected areas in the laundry room, the hallway, and the bathroom 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.

Mold Solutions By Cowleys was contacted after a Perth Amboy, NJ homeowner found mold growth in the back right corner of his basement. The sooner that a mold problem is identified and treated, the better. Fortunately, here, the homeowner contacted Cowleys immediately. The mold did not have time to spread and it remained localized in one area.  We applied an antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented safe and non-toxic sealant (MAPS 2) that kills existing mold upon contact. This sealant is unique: it is moisture-sensitive and will reactivate to kill any future mold growth in the treated areas. As part of our mold treatment process, we thoroughly scrub down all hard surfaces to remove visible mold growth. As long as the building materials have not lost their structural integrity through water damage, our applications treat and kill mold right where it sits. By treating the mold directly, homeowners can avoid extensive and expensive tear-out and renovation projects.   We strive to remove all mold and all signs of mold including unsightly mold stains and musty mold smells. Someone should be able to go into a mold-affected room after our treatment and not have the slightest indication that mold was once present. But mold treatment is more than aesthetics. Indoor mold can trigger a variety of health issues. We want to make sure that a home’s indoor air quality is safe once again for all of the home’s occupants. 

This home in Matawan, NJ, had a leak behind some sheetrock in the basement that had gone undetected. Water damage was severe. In order to determine the extent of the water damage, we cut out a portion of the sheetrock. We removed water-damaged sheetrock as well as any ruined insulation. With our mold treatment, if the building materials have not lost their structural integrity, we can treat the mold right where it sits and avoid a tear-out. However, once building materials have become water-damaged, they must be removed. A Mold Solutions team treated the mold-affected areas of the home with an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) to kill the surface mold, followed by a patented sealant (MAPS 2) that completely destroys existing mold. This sealant reactivates when exposed to water or moisture to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated areas.  The homeowner was pleased that we could deal with the mold problem so efficiently. The lesson with this particular mold job is that homeowners need to periodically inspect all areas of the home to ensure that there are no hidden water intrusion issues. Any water intrusion problem, including pipe leaks and rainwater or groundwater entering the home through the roof or foundation can trigger dangerous mold growth. Chronically high humidity and moisture conditions in basements and crawl spaces is a common cause of mold formation as well. If you have a mold problem, it is important to have the mold treated correctly. Contrary to popular belief, simply wiping bleach on porous surfaces like wood and sheetrock will not kill all of the mold.

This home in West orange, NJ, had extensive visible mold growth on wood paneling throughout the basement. Mold can come in all colors and shapes, and all mold is potentially a health hazard, not just black mold. A Mold Solutions team treated the entire basement with an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) to kill the surface mold, followed by a patented sealant (MAPS 2) that completely destroys existing mold, and reactivates when exposed to water or moisture to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated areas. We thoroughly wiped down any hard surface to remove all visible mold growth.  To prevent mold growth in crawl spaces, it is essential to keep down humidity and moisture levels with dehumidification. For this West Orange home, we installed a commercial-grade SaniDry XP dehumidifier. These powerful maintenance-free dehumidifiers are specifically designed to work in basements and crawl spaces. These machines use a built-in hygrometer to turn on and off automatically based on humidity levels. Also, they drain directly into the sump pump, so they never have to be emptied.