Job Stories

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.

Oftentimes, mold is discovered in the non-living areas of the home during a home inspection performed as part of a pending sale on behalf of the buyer to determine whether the home has any structural issues that require correction. Although home inspectors are not generally mold experts, most are aware that mold is a concern for buyers and they are able to identify the signs of mold growth and the water intrusion or moisture issues that may be causing the mold growth. For all the parties involved – buyer, seller, and realtor – the discovery of mold could not happen at a more inopportune time. It is to no one’s advantage to postpone or kill a potential sale because of a finding of mold.  During a home inspection of a home in Lakewood, NJ on behalf of the buyer, the inspector discovered mold growth in two different areas of the crawl space. Crawl spaces are a notorious trouble spot in a home. They are often used by insects and wildlife, and their high humidity can trigger mold growth. At this juncture, given the pending sale, the sellers were focused on having the existing mold treated and were not seeking long-term solutions to prevent future mold growth. To protect their investment, the buyer should consider dehumidification and other possible improvements to the crawl space. A two-person Mold Solutions By Cowleys crew treated the mold problem with our mold treatment program. This program involves two separate applications in areas of mold growth. First, we applied an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) to the affected areas. Next, we applied our patented sealant (MAPS 2), for which Cowleys is a licensed distributor. This sealant kills molds on contact at the cellular level rendering it inert and harmless. Mold is dangerous because its airborne spores can cause various respiratory problems, and some strains of mold contain actual toxins. This sealant is also moisture-sensitive. If the conditions that trigger mold growth return, this sealant has the ability to reactivate and kill any new mold growth in the treated areas. Finally, we wiped down any visible staining. The seller homeowners were pleased that we could complete this job in less than a day and that the sale would not be delayed because of mold. The sellers could now represent to the potential buyers that the crawl space mold problem was treated, and the crawl space is now safe and mold-free. 

A new customer in Island Heights, NJ called Mold Solutions after smelling a "moldy & musty" odor in his home. After inspecting the inside of the home and not finding any mold, we inspected the crawl space (since 40% of the air we breathe in a home comes from it). Sure enough, we found mold all over the joists. What caused it? High humidity levels in the crawl space.  First, we removed all of the insulation and applied our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution attacks mold at its DNA and kills it instantly. Next, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away the mold stains. Afterward, we applied our patented sealant which encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergenic. This sealant is called MAPS 2 and it's also moisture sensitive, which will prevent mold from returning. We also replaced all the old insulation with ComfortTherm® insulation. ComfortTherm® insulation provides excellent temperature and noise control, and comes with a vapor-retarder for use in hot, humid climates. Lastly, to control the high humidity levels, 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 properly control the humidity levels in the crawl space.    

After finding mold in his crawl space, a new customer in Island Heights, NJ called our office for help and we were sent out to remove the mold. First, after equipping our Personal Protective Equipment, we inspected the crawl space to identify the conducive condition that caused the mold growth. After inspecting the area with our hygrometer, we discovered that the high humidity levels in the crawl space led to the mold growth.  First, we removed and disposed of all the contaminated items in the crawl space and then applied our EPA-registered antimicrobial solution called MAPS 1. MAPS 1 (which stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solution) targets mold at its DNA and kills it instantly. We then used our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the mold staining, and applied MAPS 2. MAPS 2 encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. Finally, to control the humidity levels in the crawl space we installed a Sedona 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! Now the crawl space is mold-free!

This homeowner decided to it was time to clean out some of the items he had stored in is crawl space. As he was reorganizing some of the containers, he noticed a lot of mold growth along the joists. He immediately went upstairs and called Mold Solutions for help.  As soon as we inspected the crawl space we immediately identified the cause of the mold growth, high humidity levels! High humidity in the air can supply enough moisture for mold to grow. Humidity levels should be kept ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent. After our inspection, we applied an EPA registered antimicrobial solution called MAPS 1. MAPS 1 attacks mold at its DNA and kills it instantly. Next, we applied our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the mold stains, and applied MAPS 2. This is a 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 handle the high humidity issue, 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 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 realtor who was trying to close on a short sale had contacted me. He couldn’t sell his investment property in East Brunswick, NJ unless and until its widespread mold growth was taken care of.   This home was a “perfect storm” for mold growth, and had one of the most severe mold problems I’ve ever encountered. And after the mold problems I’ve seen following Sandy, that’s saying a lot. This vacant home suffered from neglect, poor ventilation, no power, and, if this weren’t enough, it was located in an area with a naturally high water table. The soil around the foundation was always saturated, and with no power, there was no operational sump pump. Water entered the structure and, with no mechanism to remove it, collected and remained stagnant in the basement. It was a horrendous situation. If a microbiologist wanted to grow mold, this home would have made the perfect laboratory. Upon entering the home, the smell of mold hit me like a slap in the face. I immediately knew that I would not need to do much detective work to find the mold in this house. There was nothing subtle about this mold problem. I entered the basement and immediately found heavy mold growth on the sub-floor, joist beams, the walls that were painted, and all the basement drywall.  The solution to treating this mold problem was our patented MAPS system.  After the water intrusion inspection, there are three key steps:  Step 1: Eradicate any existing mold. We apply an anti-microbial killing agent using electrostatic fogging. This is an EPA-registered, multi-purpose, anti-microbial based in quaternary ammonium salts that works as a bactericide, virucide, disinfectant, fungicide (mold is a type of fungus), cleaner, mildew stat and deodorizer. This solution kills mold and mildew (and even bacteria and viruses!!) within 10 to 15 minutes. Its job is then done, and the product dissipates and is no longer present.    Step 2: Prevent the regrowth of mold. We apply our patented, polymer sealant using electrostatic fogging. This sealant is the key product of the MAPS System, and is not available elsewhere. It enhances the effectiveness of the anti-microbial by sealing any treated surfaces, porous or non-porous. The sealant acts as a shield against future mold growth on treated surfaces. The product, developed by a world-renowned biomaterials scientist, is derived from coating used in human implant devices. The sealant uses silver, nature’s natural anti-microbial metal, at a nanoscale level to create an impermeable silver barrier. Any microorganism that comes into contact with this sealant, including mold, immediately dies. The sealant also has built-in “moisture intelligence,” which is the ability to travel through any surface water and seek out the moisture in mold spores. When a mold spore comes into contact with the sealant, its molecular DNA is broken down and rearranged. The mold is no longer allergenic or otherwise harmful to the home’s occupants. This step is essential for preventing the regrowth of mold and for resolving a mold problem for the long-term. This sealant is unique to the Mold Exterm System and is what separates our mold treatment process from any other that is offered on the market. Step 3. The installation of a commercial-grade SaniDry upright dehumidifier in the basement.  Once the power to this home was turned back on, with the dehumidifier and annual yearly service, reducing indoor humidity levels and an operational sump pump, I was able to guarantee that this home would remain mold-free for 5 years from the date of treatment. No similar guarantee is offered by traditional mold remediators. That is because they simply remove the mold (as well as huge quantities of building materials) and do not attempt to treat it. In contrast, we are able to offer a long-term guarantee precisely because our products and our process are designed to treat and remove the threat of mold for the long-term, not just for today. 

A property manager was trying to sell one off one of his businesses in East Brunswick, NJ. During the inspection process, black mold was discovered in the corner of the boiler room. This put a stop to the selling process and infuriated the owner! After doing some research, he found Mold Solutions by Cowleys, gave us a call, and we were sent out. What had caused the mold to grow in the fist place? Extremely high humidity levels! So we treated the boiler with an application called MAPS 1. MAPS 1 is an EPA registered antimicrobial that attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it immediately. After that was finished, 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, we installed a commercial grade Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers cost less to run than other dehumidifiers, covers over 3000 square feet, are energy efficient, and will properly control the humidity levels in the boiler room. Now the owner can move forward with the selling process of his business!