Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

A homeowner in Old Bridge Township, NJ found himself with a basement mold problem. Indoor mold will start to grow wherever there is a water or chronic moisture problem inside the home. Here, the culprit was a leaking dehumidifier. Apparently, the dehumidifier had been leaking for some time before anyone noticed. When working properly, dehumidifiers can do wonders preventing mold growth by extracting excess moisture from the air. The problem, however, is that with store-bought “off the rack” machines, there is a wide range in quality, and most are lacking in one respect or the other.  Some simply are not powerful enough for the square footage requiring coverage. As this homeowner found out the hard way, others aren’t built that well and are prone to leaking. For this homeowner, his dehumidifier was a hindrance rather than a help.

The excess moisture triggered mold growth on the bottom of the furniture where the carpet was soaked through. We removed the carpeting because it was still wet from the leak, and then treated the mold-affected areas. We treated the affected areas with our EPA registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1, which attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it instantly. After applying MAPS 1, 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. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

To control the humidity levels, we installed our commercial-grade  Sani-Dry dehumidifiers. These machines are specifically designed and manufactured for the challenging environments of basements and crawl spaces. Generic residential dehumidifiers simply aren’t up to the job. For example, the SaniDry XP is a powerful energy-efficient dehumidifier that outperforms standard household dehumidifiers by as much as 10 times while using the same amount of energy to run. The SaniDry XP can effectively cover indoor living spaces over 3000 square feet, making it well-suited for basements and crawl spaces over 40” high. 

During the pending sale of a home in Howell, NJ, the inspector discovered extensive mold growth in the crawl space. Mold, a type of fungus, is always caused by some water or moisture problem inside a structure. Sustained high indoor humidity levels are enough to trigger mold growth. Basements and crawl spaces are often prime breeding grounds for mold. Many crawl spaces are still vented, allowing thick, humid outside air to enter, not to mention insects and other pests. 

First, we applied MAPS 1, which is an antimicrobial solution that targets mold at its cellular level and kills it instantly. After applying MAPS 1, we scrubbed away the mold and then applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2. MAPS 2 encapsulates the mold, rendering it non-allergenic & harmless, and is moisture sensitive and will reactivate when it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. In order to address the high humidity levels in the basement, we installed a Sedona Sandi-Dry XP dehumidifier. A Sedona Sandi-Dry XP is a powerful, energy-efficient dehumidifier that outperforms standard household dehumidifiers by as much as 10 times while using the same amount of energy to run. Now the seller can continue with the sale of his home!

We were called out to a home in Wall Township, NJ where the owners had spotted mold in the attic near a bathroom exhaust tube during a home inspection. The homeowner immediately contacted Cowleys Mold Solutions to solve the problem. We began by first applying our antimicrobial solution (MM1) to kill any surface mold as well as any airborne. Due to the heavy stains, which can remain even after the mold is killed, (mold is a live organism we followed up the mold treatment with a commercial grade stain remover. After the solution dries, we then apply our patented polymer sealer(MM2). Our system prevents the return of mold growth on all treated surfaces.

A small family practice medical office in Howell, NJ was closed for a short time during the summer for a family vacation. While away, the building’s air conditioning system malfunctioned and stopped functioning during an exceptionally hot and humid week, and the office was filled with warm humid air. The air conditioning system was immediately fixed and started pumping out cool air, however, this caused an unintended problem — vent and ductwork mold growth. The owner called our office and we were sent out to inspect and treat the problem

Since this was a doctor’s office, this mold had to be treated quickly and correctly. First, we applied our EPA-registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1. This product attacks mold at its DNA and kills it instantly. After applying MAPS 1, we then scrubbed 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. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

There was some staining from the mold on one of the vents, however, it is purely aesthetic. Once MAPS 1 & 2 have been applied, the mold is no longer a threat. The customer was pleased that we were able to resolve this mold issue so expeditiously. He was concerned that the area would not be usable for some period of time for treating patients, and that was not the case. With our mold treatment process, everything was up and running in no time.

This Holmdel, NJ homeowner, while readying their home for sale, found surface mold growing in their basement.  We first treated the mold with our EPA-registered anti-microbial called Mold Abatement Polymer Solution (MAPS) 1. MAPS 1 attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it instantly.

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.

We discussed with the homeowners the installation of a dehumidifier to prevent the mold from coming back. Dehumidification is, by far, the most important long-term preventative measure for controlling moisture that will inevitably lead to mold growth.  Mold Solutions By Cowleys sells and services powerful, maintenance-free dehumidifiers specifically designed for basements and crawl spaces. The owner understood the importance of dehumidification. However, because they were in the process of selling, the homeowners did not want to make the investment immediately before the sale, and would rather discuss the long-term resolution of mold issues in the basement with any prospective purchasers. In New Jersey, sellers are required to disclose water and dampness problems and the presence of mold in the home.