Mold Solutions by Cowleys 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.

Here in New Jersey, homes are often built with crawl space foundations rather than full basements. They are called crawl spaces for good reasons. Many have heights of three feet or less, so you can only get around hunched over or crawling on your hands and knees. They aren’t built with comfort in mind! The two main reasons for builders choosing crawl spaces are cost and accessibility. Crawl spaces are less costly to build than full basements. First, there is less excavation work. Second, many Jersey Shore areas have a high water table, and dry basements built below the water table have added costs. You must have a properly installed exterior water management system for groundwater control or basement flooding will be a constant headache. Sometimes, crawl spaces can be less expensive than building a concrete slab. For example, moving dirt to level a sloping lot can get expensive. As far as accessibility, crawl spaces provide access for electrical, plumbing, and ducts work for HVAC systems. With crawl spaces, these systems are easy to service for future maintenance and repairs. 

However, everything is not rainbows and butterflies when it comes to crawl spaces. First, they are rarely visited by homeowners and when problems underneath develop, they often go unnoticed for quite awhile. Contrary to what building scientists know today, most crawl spaces are vented, supposedly to get the moisture out. In fact, the opposite happens!  Moist, humid air, especially during our notoriously humid Jersey Shore summers, are sucked into the crawl space. Chronically high humidity and moisture in the crawl space leads to all sorts of problems. In this “tropical” environment, insect populations thrive and mold will start to grow. Often, homeowners don’t realize there is mold in their crawl space until the earthy, musty mold smells start wafting into the living areas of the home. When mold starts growing in the basement, the mold spores are carried everywhere on air currents. Mold can start growing elsewhere in the home and the home’s occupants can start developing mold-related respiratory problems. 

This home in Mantoloking, NJ, was experiencing high relative indoor humidity levels in the crawl space and the homeowner was concerned about the potential for mold growth and other moisture-related issues. He decided to deal with the issue rather than wait for problems to develop and contacted Cowleys to have his crawl space encapsulated. Cowleys has a dedicated team of technicians that convert damp crawl spaces into clean, dry areas where mold can’t grow.

With this home, we conducted a careful inspection to determine the problem areas and develop a treatment strategy. First, we had to remove all of the water-damaged insulation that was not salvageable. We then treated the crawl space for possible mold given the high moisture conditions. We treat indoor mold growth with two different applications, an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS1) followed by a patented sealant (MAPS2) that both kills mold on contact and reactivates to kill future mold growth. We then sealed all of the vents and encapsulated the entire crawl space with a thick vapor barrier. Finally, we installed a commercial-grade dehumidifier that will keep down humidity levels. Mold will only grow if there is sufficient moisture content in the air. With proper dehumidification, the mold is stopped in its tracks.

The homeowner was quite pleased with the end result and was relieved that he no longer had to worry about his problem crawl space. His only regret was not doing this work sooner!

A church in Asbury Park, NJ, like many residences and commercial structures in this oceanfront city, deal with groundwater issues because of its high water table. The water table is the level at which the soil and gravel are completely saturated with water, and properties near oceans and other large bodies of water face exceptionally high water tables. When compounded by heavy rains or significant accumulated snowmelt, the water table is often at or above basement and crawl space levels. Once this occurs, groundwater becomes a serious nuisance, seeping through the porous concrete foundation, often causing flooding. 

Once there is a water intrusion in a basement or crawl space, there is not only potential damage from the water itself. Another significant problem will inevitably arise — mold! Mold is a living breathing fungus that consumes wood and other organic materials. It grows and colonizes through airborne spores. Over time, mold will destroy wood, drywall, carpeting, and many other building materials. Beyond property damage, mold is also a serious health issue. Its airborne spores can have a devastating impact on indoor air quality and cause respiratory problems for those living or using the premises. 

Unfortunately, this church did not deal with its groundwater issues in a timely fashion and found itself with a serious mold problem in its basement. They knew the mold problem had to be addressed or matters would just get worse, and contacted Mold Solutions By Cowleys to get rid of the mold. 

Our Mold Solutions team treated all of the mold growth throughout the entire basement. 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 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. Unfortunately, due to the fact that mold has been present in the basement for such a long period of time, it stained the walls. Fortunately, these stains are purely aesthetic and pose no health risk. Once MAPS 1 & 2 have been applied, the mold is no longer a threat.

Recently, we went on a service call for a homeowner in Asbury Park, NJ who contacted Cowleys to resolve a mold issue that had developed in his attic. Attics are one of the more common places in a home to find mold growth. Attics can suffer from high humidity levels, especially during the summer, as well as water intrusion problems because of roof or soffit leaks. Unfortunately, mold growth in attics often goes unnoticed. It is important to periodically check the non-living spaces in your home like attics and crawl spaces for mold and other issues.

After suiting up with our personal protective equipment (mold is a serious bio-hazard in enclosed spaces), we began our inspection of the attic. Almost immediately, we discovered an area that had evident mold growth. Whenever mold is discovered, to resolve the problem long-term, it is essential to identify the underlying cause of the mold growth and have those issues remedied so that mold doesn’t return. Here, after a thorough inspection, we determined that the mold growth was due to poor ventilation. Attic ventilation is something that few homeowners think about. However, inadequate attic ventilation can lead to very expensive repairs, unnecessarily high utility bills, and as this homeowner found out the hard way, mold growth! Circulating airborne mold spores can cause respiratory issues and skin irritation, especially with the young, the elderly, and those who are immune-compromised. There is no safe level of mold and, if found, it must be treated.

With our mold treatment process, we first applied MAPS 1, an EPA-registered anti-microbial application. MAPS 1 (Mold Abatement Polymer Solution 1) is specifically designed to kill active mold growth. We then scrubbed the surface mold from the attic and applied MAPS 2, a patented polymer sealant that encapsulates the existing dead mold and prevents future mold from growing.

Mold releases enzymes to decompose wood, which leaves a stain. Here, the mold growth had gone unchecked for such a long period of time, and there were some areas where the mold had left deep stains that could not be fully removed. While it appears that there is still mold, these stains are purely aesthetic and pose no health risk. 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.

Although we treated the mold in the attic, there was still the issue of the underlying condition that triggered the growth in the first place: poor attic ventilation. The homeowner decided to deal with this issue once and for all. He will be hiring our contractor division to install static vents in his attic. Static vents, by improving air exchange, will reduce attic humidity levels and the risk of mold growth. Also, with the installation of these vents, the home will be more comfortable and his utility bills will be reduced. All in all, a very worthwhile investment!

Earlier this week, I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Asbury Park, NJ who was having a bit of an issue. Recently, as the homeowner was renovating his garage area, a pipe burst behind the drywall and began leaking water. He was able to stop the water leak in time but missed a portion in the garage. In a short amount of time, mold had developed. 

Mold is considered a biohazard in enclosed spaces, therefore, I need to equip my personal protective equipment. I began surveying the garage and was able to spot the mold growth. Any strain of mold, not just toxic black mold, is potentially hazardous. The elderly and young children are especially susceptible to health issues from indoor mold. Mold Solutions by Cowleys has a new technology solution that kills active mold and its mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are the primary allergens associated with mold spores that cause most severe allergic reactions.

First, I removed the contaminated portion of the drywall and then treated the entire area with an EPA-registered, non-toxic antimicrobial solution called MAPS 1. MAPS 1 breaks down mold at a cellular level and kills it instantly. Next, I applied MAPS 2, which is a moisture-sensitive sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and reactivates when it gets moist to prevent the growth of any future mold colonies. The homeowner told me that he hired a contractor to take care of the broken pipe.