Leak in Basement Causes Mold Growth in East Brunswick, NJ

Recently, a Cowleys Mold Solutions crew was sent to a home in East Brunswick, NJ, to remove mold that had formed in the basement. The homeowners discovered a small leak in their basement and had the problem fixed. However, after the leak was repaired, they were still left with dangerous mold growth. Once mold grows in an area of the home, airborne mold spores released by the mold will travel and air currents throughout the home. Not only does the mold spread, but the home’s occupants breathe in this air, which can precipitate respiratory health issues. People and mold simply cannot occupy the same space!

Normally, we don’t remove sheetrock unless it is water-damaged and has lost its structural integrity. This particular customer was concerned that there may be mold growing behind the wall. We believed there was likely no issue since the sheetrock was not water-damaged, and if there were mold, it did not pose any threat since it was “locked” in a contained space. Nevertheless, for his own peace of mind, the homeowner wanted to affirmatively determine whether there was mold growth behind the wall.  Pursuant to the homeowner’s instructions, we cut out some areas of the drywall so we could visually determine whether there was a hidden mold problem. Just as we suspected, there were no mold issues behind the wall. All of the mold in the basement was visible on the basement’s external surfaces. 

With our process, there is no need for a massive tear-out and renovation project, and we can often do so in less than a day. Here, we treated the entire basement by applying MAPS 1, which an EPA-registered antimicrobial that attacks mold at its DNA and kills it immediately. 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.

Unfortunately, mold staining had occurred because the mold had been present in the area for quite some time. These stains are purely aesthetic and pose no health risk because once MAPS 1 & 2 have been applied, the mold is no longer a threat.