Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

These homeowners in Eatontown had their bathroom vent hose detach from the bathroom vent fan, and hot bathroom air was being belched straight into the attic pretty much every day someone was taking a nice, hot shower. This problem went unnoticed for about a year, resulting in significant mold growth all over the attic rafters and roof sheathing.

To help prevent mold growth in your home, it is important to move moist humid air out of the home before it can condense and lead to dangerous mold growth. It’s why we have exhaust systems for clothes dryers, attic ventilation fans, and bathroom ventilation fans. When any of these systems are not properly functioning and fail to move moist air out of the home or have been improperly installed, wood rot and other damage from moisture and the dangerous consequence of chronic moisture conditions, mold growth, often results. 

Once the problem was found, the homeowners immediately had the hose fixed. But they had a mold problem that needed to be resolved, so they contacted Mold Solutions By Cowleys to kill the mold. Since all of the building materials were structurally intact with no water damage and only had superficial mold growth, there was no need for a massive tear-out and renovation project. Instead, we were able to permanently remove the mold in less than a day with our treatment process that involves two separate products. 

First, we applied our EPA-registered anti-microbial, called MAPS 1, which targets mold at its DNA and kills it immediately. Next, we applied our patented polymer sealant called MAPS 2. This sealant is what makes our mold treatment process unique in the industry. MAPS 2 encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it useless and non-allergenic. Additionally, MAPS 2 is moisture-sensitive and whenever it senses moisture, the sealant reactivates to prevent the return of any new mold growth in any of the treated areas.

Needless to say, the homeowner was quite relieved that his attic mold problem could be addressed and resolved so quickly. The lesson learned in these cases is to periodically check those seldom visited places in your home like your crawl space and attic to make sure that there are no mold issues or other hidden problems lurking above or below.

This homeowner in Manasquan, NJ was having a chronic moisture problem in his basement. The basement ductwork had a chronic condensation problem — water droplets were forming on the outside of the ducts, creating a big mess. Condensation on ductwork can lead to all sorts of problems including damage to ceilings and drywall as well as mold growth. 

Unfortunately, this homeowner found himself with mold growth throughout the basement because of the heavy condensation that had formed on the ducts. Prior to Mold Solutions By Cowleys arriving to treat the mold, he had the ducts properly insulated and also installed a dehumidifier. When we arrived we were happy to hear that the homeowner took care of the conducive conditions that lead to the mold growth! Now we just gotta get rid of the mold!

First, we applied our EPA registered anti-microbial called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1 (MAPS 1 for short). MAPS 1 targets mold at its DNA 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. 

With the mold destroyed and the underlying problem that had caused the mold growth fixed, this homeowner permanently solved his basement’s moisture and mold issues.

Recently, I went on a service call to a home in Manasquan, NJ after the homeowner contacted us because of mold growth in his basement. As I was equipping my personal protective equipment to start my inspection, I asked the homeowner about any water intrusions that could have triggered the mold growth. He stated that, a short time ago, his water heater had a small leak, spraying water all over the sheetrock wall. Although the leak was fixed immediately, it wasn’t caught quickly enough, and mold started to form. 

Mold is a living fungus that grows by digesting organic matter and spreads by releasing airborne spores that attach on surfaces to form new colonies. In nature, mold is essential to decompose wood, leaves and other plant debris. However, indoor mold poses a serious health hazard. Mold growth can be triggered inside homes because of chronic humidity or some water intrusion, and mold can form on pretty much any surface, from wood and wallpaper to insulation and carpeting. Because mold thrives on water and moisture, any water leak, even a small one, can trigger mold growth. Mold spreads by airborne spores attaching to damp surfaces. Spores in outdoor air can find their way inside homes through open windows or by attaching themselves to anyone or anything entering the home. Short of forming an airtight seal around your home, it is impossible to stop mold spores from coming inside. In fact, mold spores surround us all the time. But just like other invisible allergens, they are too small for us to see!

I began my inspection, and immediately located the obvious mold growth next to the water heater. However, mold growth could attach anywhere once it forms, and to be thorough, I inspected every nook and cranny of the basement to determine if there was mold growth in other areas. Fortunately, the mold growth was localized to the one area near the water heater and no other areas were yet affected. In some instances, sheetrock or other building materials with severe water damage have lost their structural integrity and must be removed. Often, however, the materials just have superficial growth and it is not necessary to remove the materials. Instead, we treat the mold directly right where it sits, which saves the homeowner from an expensive tear-out and renovation project. Here, to the relief of this homeowner, it was not necessary to remove the mold-affected sheetrock.

First, I began treating the affected area with an EPA-registered antimicrobial solution, called MAPS 1 (Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions) that kills existing mold. Then, I follow it with a patented sealant called MAPS 2 to encapsulate the mold rendering it inert, harmless, and nonallergenic. The sealant not only kills the existing mold, but it’s formulated to reactivate to kill any future mold growth. Now the risk of dangerous mold growth, both now and in the future, has been removed.

A homeowner in Manalapan, NJ called contacted Cowleys after spotting mold in his garage. The ceiling in this garage had a small area of mold growth due to a leaky roof. The homeowner had the leak repaired, but mold stilled formed. Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects. Those who are sensitive to molds can suffer nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. 

We equipped our personal protective equipment and began inspecting the garage. We spotted the mold growth in the garage and began our treatment. We treated the entire garage space with Maps 1. Maps 1 is an EPA-registered anti-microbial solution that is specifically designed to kill active mold growth. We then scrubbed away the surface mold and applied MAPS 2, a patented polymer sealant that encapsulates the existing dead mold and prevents future mold from growing. Once MAPS 1 & 2 have been applied, the mold is no longer a threat. The remaining stains are inert, harmless, and non-allergenic. Also, MAPS 2 will reactivate with moisture to fight future mold growth. 

This homeowner in Manasquan, NJ called our office after discovering some mold growth on the rafters in his attic. We arrived, equipped our personal protective equipment, began our inspection, and confirmed the homeowner's suspicion that there was indeed mold growth in his attic. Now that we discovered the mold, we need to determine the cause of it in order to properly treat it. Turns out that the attic fan had broken recently, unknown to the homeowner. This lead to poor ventilation in the attic and by the time the homeowner realized there was a problem, it was already too late. Fortunately, he hired a contractor to replace the attic fan which will take care of the ventilation issue.

Mold in your attic or anywhere else in your home is dangerous. Mold can lead to watery and itchy eyes, a weakened immune system, coughing, sneezing, and respiratory illnesses or infections among other related symptoms. To make it even more dangerous, mold can spread if you don’t take care of it. The mold spores can easily travel through openings of any size, making their way from the attic to living areas of your home.

First, we used our HEPA vacuum to remove the larger areas of mold growth. Next, we applied our EPA registered antimicrobial solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions, or MAPS 1 for short. MAPS 1 targets mold at its DNA level and kills it instantly. We then scrubbed the surface mold and applied MAPS 2, a patented polymer sealant that encapsulates the existing dead mold and prevents future mold from growing. Once MAPS 1 & 2 have been applied, the mold is no longer a threat.