Mold Removal & Mold Services Before & After Photos

A homeowner in Neptune, NJ was in the process of a massive renovation project. Unfortunately, during the tear-out, there was an unwelcome discovery — mold was found behind the insulation and sheetrock.  The contractor removed all of the mold-covered insulation, and the homeowner called Mold Solutions By Cowleys to treat the mold found on the studs and sheathing. 

Signs of mold growth are often subtle, especially in situations such as this where the mold growth is not visible. Hidden mold can grow out of sight behind walls in the wall cavities. These spaces can contain pockets of humid, moist air where mold can thrive. Mold requires an organic food source, and drywall is high in cellulose. Mold does not only grow on the visible side of the drywall. It can just as easily grow on the hidden side. As this homeowner found out, insulation is a fertile reservoir for mold. It may not only contain organic material, but it also traps large amounts of dust that, amazingly enough, is also food for mold. Insulation that has mold on it must be removed and replaced.  Mold may be hidden underneath the insulation’s spongy layers, so it cannot be directly treated or completely cleaned out. 

First, we applied our EPA-registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1. This product attacks mold at its DNA and kills it instantly. We then wiped away all the mold and applied MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is a patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it useless and non-allergenic. The sealant is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated areas. In order words, the sealant not only kills today’s mold growth; it stops tomorrow’s growth as well.

The homeowners were pleased that their hidden mold problem was resolved in less than a day and that the renovation schedule was not delayed. Since these building materials just had superficial mold growth and there was no loss of structural integrity, all of the materials could be saved and there was no major reconstruction of the home beyond what was already planned and budgeted.

These homeowners in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ were in the process of selling their home. As often happens, during the home inspection, mold was found in the basement. This home did not have a basement dehumidifier and there was chronically high indoor humidity that led to mold growth.

We treated the entire basement using MAPS 1, which is our EPA-registered antimicrobial. Following MAPS 1, we applied our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders the mold non-allergenic and harmless, called MAPS 2 MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and if any mold attempts to take root and regrow in any of the treated areas, this sealant reactivates to kill any new mold growth before it has a chance to take hold. 

Most important for the seller, since there were no building materials that lost their structural integrity, it was not necessary to do a major tear-out and renovation with our treatment process because we kill the mold right where it sits. With our process, there were no construction delays or other problems caused by finding mold. The sellers breathed a sigh of relief once they found out that the sale would not be derailed because of mold, and that the closing could go on as planned.

After realizing he had a tremendous amount of mold growth in his crawl space, this homeowner in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ called our office. When we inspected, we couldn't find an area that didn't have mold on it. The conducive condition was the high moisture levels due to the dirt floor.

Crawl spaces that have dirt floors are a huge source of moisture as underground water and moisture-laden air can get in them and cause mold. 

For treatment, we treated every square inch of the crawl space with our EPA-registered antimicrobial solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solution 1, or MAPS 1. This product attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it instantly. We then used our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the excess mold staining throughout the joists, and then applied our patented sealant MAPS 2. This application 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.

We spoke to the homeowner about encapsulating his crawl space to prevent future mold issues. He agreed it would be the best course of action and called our office to make an appointment!

Due to the incredibly high humidity levels in her crawl space, this homeowner in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, had white mold growing all over the rafters. 

First, we equipped our personal protective equipment (PPE) and then treated the mold 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. 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.

This homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ had a dryer vent that wasn't attached properly, and the warm dryer air meeting the cool basement air resulted in condensation inside the vent. It is common to find high levels of lint in the vent. Although we do not think of lint as organic material, lint is simply tiny bits of fabric fibers that are shed from the edges of our clothing. Fabrics made of natural fibers like cotton and wool generate more lint than synthetic fabrics, and this soft, clumpy material that we pull out of lint vent is a delectable food source for mold. Mold thrives in dark, humid locations, and with condensation inside the dryer vent forming from hot air colliding with cool, conditions were ripe for mold growth. 

With this home, mold growth started to form inside the wall. This dryer was not venting to the outside of the home, and, every time they did a load, they were pumping a tremendous amount of moist air into the wall void, creating conditions for mold to grow. This moist air can also cause structural damage to the drywall itself.

The homeowner had the dryer vent fixed, so the appliance is now properly exhausting the humid, moist air, but there was still the problem with mold. That’s where the Mold Solutions By Cowleys team comes in.

First, we applied our anti-microbial MAPS 1. This product immediately kills mold (and virtually any other virus or pathogen in its path) at the cellular level. Next, we 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.

With the mold destroyed and the underlying problem that caused the mold growth fixed, this homeowner permanently solved his mold problem — and did so expeditiously. By treating the mold directly right where it sits, the homeowner avoided dealing with an extensive and unnecessary tear out of building materials with mold growth, not to mention the headache of renovations that follow.