Job Stories

After finding mold in his basement, this customer in Brielle, NJ called Mold Solutions for help and we were sent out. While we were inspecting the basement, we realized that it was cluttered with empty boxes, discarded newspapers, old open bottles filled with liquids, and old furniture. A closer inspection revealed that almost all of the items had mold in or on them! Using our hygrometer, we determined that the humidity levels in the basement were VERY high. This was the conducive condition that caused the mold growth. The owner informed us that every contaminated item in the basement can be disposed of, so we did just that! Once the basement was clutter-free, we treated the area with an EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This antimicrobial attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Afterward, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away any and all the mold stains throughout the basement. Next, 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. To address 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, are energy efficient, and will properly control the humidity levels in the basement!

While this homeowner in Neptune, NJ was away on a business trip, a pipe had burst in her bathroom and flooded that area and the family room. The owner did hire someone to fix the broken pipe, but the damage was done and mold had grown all over the paneling and behind the sheetrock. The damage was so severe that a full mold remediation had to be done. First, we removed all the sheetrock and paneling that lost its structural integrity. To treat the mold, we applied our EPA-registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This application attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the mold growth, and applied 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. MAPS 2 is also moisture sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. 

The owners of this commercial building in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ were having trouble controlling the moisture and humidity in the basement. Chronic moisture and humidity problems can trigger dangerous mold growth and attract insects and other pests that thrive in damp, dark conditions.  The owners knew they had potential problems on their hands if this situation was not resolved, and contacted Cowleys for help. The single best long-term solution to prevent high humidity and moisture conditions in basements and crawl spaces is by installing a commercial-grade dehumidifier. As long as humidity levels are kept low (below 55% relative humidity),  mold can’t take hold. Also, the occupants of a home or commercial structure benefit as well. Air currents circulate basement or crawl space air throughout the entire structure, and dehumidifying these non-living spaces improves the indoor air quality throughout the entire structure and gets rid of those stinky musty smells that carry upward from those damp moist areas.  At Mold Solutions by Cowleys, we install SaniDry dehumidifiers. These fully automatic workhorses are specially designed to work in crawl spaces and basements. They are daily maintenance-free with no water pan to empty or worry about overflowing. With this particular installation, we installed the dehumidifier with a  condensate pump that drains directly into the main sewer line. Often, we are able to have the dehumidifier to drain the water extracted out of the air directly into the sump pump. 

A short while ago, this customer in Fair Haven, NJ had a flood in her basement. A pipe had burst and although she had it repaired ASAP, the leftover moisture soaked materials that weren't removed combined with the high humidity levels in the basement caused an extensive amount of mold growth. Since we previously treated her home for a pest issue, she knew we handled mold remediation and called our office. We equipped our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and inspected the basement. During our examination, we lifted a portion of the carpet up and discovered more mold underneath it! We spoke to the owner and mentioned that the entire carpet, as well as several other items, must be removed and disposed of. She agreed and we went right to work! After removing all the contaminated materials, we treated the basement with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This application 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 applied our patented sealant which encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. This sealant is called MAPS 2 and it's also moisture sensitive, which will prevent against future mold growth. Lastly, to control the humidity levels, we installed a commercial-grade Sani-Dry Sedona commercial grade dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers cost less to run than other dehumidifiers, cover over 3000 square feet, and are energy efficient.

After noticing mold growing all along the walls of his basement, this customer in Fair Haven, NJ, called our office for help. After we thoroughly inspected the basement, we determined, using our hygrometer, that the humidity levels were extremely high in the basement. This was the conducive condition that caused the mold growth! For treatment, we applied our EPA registered antimicrobial called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1, (or MAPS 1 for short) throughout the entire basement. This solution targets mold at a cellular level and immediately kills it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. After that, 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. Finally, to control the humidity levels in the basement, we installed a commercial grade 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!

After inheriting a new piece of property in Fair Haven, NJ, this customer decided to take a look at the place one day and noticed an unusual smell. He decided to inspect the basement and was shocked to find a massive amount of mold growing all over the area! That explains the odd smell. Apparently, the previous owner had a bad leak in the basement. He took care of the busted pipe that caused the leak, but never addressed the mold issue. The moisture combined with the extremely high humidity levels made an excellent breeding environment for the mold to flourish.  For treatment, we applied an EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1 throughout the entire basement. MAPS stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions and this application attacks mold at its DNA and kills it immediately. Once that was completed, 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, inert, 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 homeowner in Little Silver, NJ noticed mold growth at the bottom of her basement stairs after a recent heavy rain. Typically, we don't remove sheetrock during our process unless there is a loss of the material’s structural integrity. With our process, we treat the mold right where it sits and leave any structurally sound materials alone. However, this homeowner was concerned about the source of the water intrusion that triggered the mold growth. She wanted to be sure that there was nothing else going on behind the wall that was contributing to the mold problem. After we removed the sheetrock, we determined that the culprit causing the mold growth was groundwater seepage into the basement after heavy rains.   The Mold Solutions crew went ahead and treated the basement for mold. Our process involves two separate applications. First, we treat the area with an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) and then use a patented sealant (MAPS 2) available only to licensed distributors. This product instantly on contact renders any mold harmless and non-allergenic. It is also moisture-sensitive and has the ability to reactivate and kill any future mold growth.  To prevent a re-occurrence of mold, it is critical to identify and fix the source of the water intrusion. If the underlying water problem isn’t fixed, mold will likely return. For this homeowner, the underlying water problem was groundwater seepage resulting from over-saturated soil around the foundation. Groundwater can enter basements when hydrostatic pressure pushes water into the basement through either cove joints (the joint between the wall and basement floor) or floor cracks.   This homeowner contacted a basement waterproofing company that specializes in groundwater seepage problems. These companies often deal with groundwater seepage by reducing the hydrostatic pressure that caused the seepage in the first place. They do this by installing interior drain tile, which is a system of perforated pipes under the basement floor. These pipes act as a pressure relief valve. The groundwater is collected in the drain tiles and then carried off to the sump pump where it is discharged. Once the groundwater seepage problem eliminated, this homeowner should not have to worry about mold returning to her basement. 

As we were performing our winter inspection for this Home Protection Plan customer in Little Silver, NJ, we found an abundance of mold all over the rafters in the attic. Attics provide an ideal environment for mold since they contain plenty of food sources such as wood and insulation. Turns out that the homeowner didn't have a working attic fan. We brought this to the owners attention and wanted Mold Solutions to get rid of all the mold in the attic. She also mentioned that she will hire a contractor to install a new attic fan. First, we treated the entire attic with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1, which stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions. MAPS 1 attacks mold at its DNA and immediately kills it. Afterward, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the excess mold staining throughout the attic. Lastly, we treated every square inch of the attic with our patented sealant called MAPS 2. This application encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth!

We were sent out to a home in Red Bank, NJ to handle a mold issue in the kitchen. Apparently, the pipe underneath the kitchen sink was leaking and since it was the water feed into the home and it had gone unnoticed for quite some time, an extensive amount of mold had grown. Earlier that week, a plumber came out and repaired the pipe. Now we're here to get rid of the mold! First, we had to remove all the mold contaminated materials. Once that was done, we treated the affected areas with an antimicrobial application called MAPS 1, which stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions. MAPS 1 is an EPA registered product that 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 area. 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.

A new homeowner in Belmar, NJ had mold growing in her crawl space. This crawl space was wide open to the elements. As often happens, moist outdoor air enters this area resulting in high indoor relative humidity levels, and in turn, this sets the stage for mold growth. Unfortunately, mold formed on the damp insulation, contaminating it. Because the insulation is porous, once contaminated, it is not salvageable and needs to be removed. The homeowner will be installing new insulation after the mold problem is resolved. We first treated the affected areas by applying our EPA-registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1. This application 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 area. 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. We also installed an EverLast™ crawl space vent door. These doors are made with a hard durable plastic that is installed against wood framing or masonry and creates an airtight, waterproof seal between the crawl space and the cold or humid air.