Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

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.

A homeowner in Shrewsbury, NJ had her hot water heater burst. To us, short of a tree crashing through a roof, a burst hot water heater is one of the more damaging, scariest events that can happen to a homeowner and is listed by insurance companies as one of the major sources of residential water damage

This homeowner was not keeping tabs on her hot water heater and paid the price. The tank burst and flooded her basement. She had the water removed and had everything dried out. Unfortunately, mold will start forming with standing water in as little as 24 hours.

Mold Solutions By Cowleys came in and treated the entire basement with our two applications, MAPS 1 and MAPS 2. MAPS 1 is our EPA-registered anti-microbial that kills mold on a cellular level. Next, we applied MAPS 2, which is our patented polymer sealant. This application, which kills mold and vertically any pathogen on contact, is moisture-sensitive and has the ability to reactivate, killing any mold that may reappear in the treated areas.

We thoroughly wiped down all hard surfaces to remove the mold stains. The homeowner was pleased with our service and happy that there was no need to tear out any building materials. As long as the building materials have not lost their structural integrity, Mold Solutions can treat the mold right where it sits, avoiding substantial construction costs often associated with traditional mold remediation. 

This Shrewsbury, NJ homeowner found himself with mold growth on a dining room wall behind a recently hung mirror. This particular job highlights the fact that it does not take much of a water or moisture intrusion for mold to grow.

Homeowners often associate mold growth with only significant water intrusions like flooding or a leaky pipe. However, that is far from the case. Often, we see mold growth formation from sustained high indoor humidity levels, especially in basements, crawl spaces, and attics. With the mold growth in this home, mold had started to form either because there was preexisting moisture on the paper and cardboard backing of the mirror or the direct contact of the mirror against the wall allowed for condensation since the was no room for the room air to move and naturally keep the wall surface dry. Either way, to the surprise of the homeowner, significant mold growth had formed behind the mirror.

I wanted to be sure that there was no mold growth inside the mirror itself behind the paper and cardboard backing, and with the homeowner’s permission, I removed the mirror backing (which was already damaged from moisture build-up) to see if there was anything lurking underneath. Out of an abundance of caution, I treated the backside of the mirror with our treatment products as well as the wall itself (see photos of damaged backing and mirror with the backing removed).

Our treatment uses two products that work in sync with each other. First, we apply an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented proprietary sealant (MAPS 2). This sealant will reactivate when exposed to water or moisture, so it not only kills the existing mold but also stands ready to kill any future mold growth in the treated areas. I recommended to the homeowner that when the mirror is reinstalled that spacers be used to keep it from directly touching the wall. Keeping the mirror off the wall will allow air circulation behind the mirror which will reduce condensation and mold growth. Also, spacers help protect the wall paint.

Mold stains are different than the mold itself. Mold is a fungus, a living organism, that spreads through releasing mold spores that reattach on new surfaces. Mold is the culprit that can cause respiratory sensitivities, allergies, and in severe cases, lung infections. Mold stains are the non-living residual markings left by mold from its enzymes that dissolve whatever organic materials that the mold is using for food. Although mold stains are unsightly, they are non-allergenic and their removal is an aesthetic decision such as whether the mold is in a living or non-living space of the home. Often, mold stains are so deeply embedded that they cannot be completely removed through scrubbing and a mold stain remover, and the only way to obliterate the mold stains is to paint over them. 

Here, you can see the residual staining on the wall after the mold was treated and we tried to manually scrub away as much of the staining as we could. The homeowner’s concern was to have the mold treated so there would no longer be any active mold growth in his living room. We were able to successfully treat his home and make his living room safe in less than a day.

The Mold Solutions team was sent to a duplex in Neptune, NJ. In a somewhat unusual case, mold growth in one residence became a shared problem with the adjacent residence. While we often see cockroaches, bed bugs, and other pests spread among attached residential units like in apartments, dormitories, and nursing homes, mold is usually a stand-alone problem within a single residence, even with attached residential units. This particular situation, however, was somewhat different. 

The customer shared a common wall with a neighboring family. While the neighbors were away on vacation, their water pipe bust. The pipe was in the wall void of the shared wall. Whenever there is a water intrusion problem, mold growth soon follows. Since the neighbors were away, the leaking pipe went undetected, and the resultant mold growth affected the two separate residences. 

After the pipe was fixed, Mold Solutions was called in to treat the mold, which had spread to both sides of the shared wall. As shown in the picture, there was visible mold on the sheetrock above the baseboard heating vents in the customer’s home.

We first treated the affected areas by applying our EPA-registered anti-microbial using electrostatic fogging, which kills any surface mold as well as any airborne mold spores. After a short waiting period, we then applied a commercial-grade stain remover to mold-stained surfaces. Finally, we applied our patented polymer sealant, also using electrostatic fogging. This unique sealant, which is derived from coatings used for human medical implant devices, is available only to authorized pest control operators licensed to apply chemical products inside structures. While completely safe and non-toxic to people, this sealant destroys mold at the cellular level. Any mold we treat is rendered inert, harmless, and non-allergenic. The sealant is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated area.

We were able to treat the mold is less than a day. Extensive renovations were avoided since no building materials were removed, and there was no need for the family to temporarily relocate. With our process, we treat and kill the mold right in its tracks. By avoiding tear-outs of building materials that have no loss of structural integrity, we also avoid disrupting the mold and inadvertently disbursing mold spores to reattach elsewhere. Needless to say, the customer could not have been more pleased with the service.

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.