Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

This homeowner in Little Silver, NJ found himself with mold growth in his basement. As often happens in basements and crawl spaces, chronically high indoor humidity levels caused mold growth. It is not necessary to have a water intrusion event like flooding or a leaky pipe. Sustained high moisture in the air is more than enough to trigger dangerous mold growth, and from our experience, this problem is one of the major causes of mold growth in homes.

The homeowner contacted Mold Solutions by Cowleys. Our crew treated the mold in less than a day. We treated the mold-affected areas of the basement with two applications. First, we applied an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented sealant available to licensed distributors (MAPS 2). This sealant not only kills the mold, but it is also moisture sensitive. It actually reactivates to kill any future mold growth! We also wiped down any visible staining caused by the mold. Mold stains are residue of mold growth. They are not by themselves allergenic. However, they are unsightly, aesthetically unappealing, and can give the mistaken impression that there is a mold problem.  

To control the humidity and prevent further mild growth, it is important to fix the underlying problem, which in this case, was high relative indoor humidity levels. To address this problem, we installed a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier for this homeowner.  These dehumidifiers are specifically designed to work in basements and crawl spaces. From homeowner feedback, the best thing about them is that they are trouble-free and work automatically. There is no water pan to empty and a built-in hygrometer constantly measures the room’s humidity, turning the machine on and off as needed. 

Mold had found its way inside the closet of the master bedroom of a townhouse in Red Bank, NJ. The mold growth was triggered by a pipe leak in an adjoining townhouse that shared a common wall. Mold requires certain conditions to develop, including excess requires moisture. It is frequently a consequence of a water intrusion event, be it a leaky roof or pipe, groundwater seepage, or even chronically high indoor humidity. Also, mold has a distinct preference for dark out-of-the-way places, so it is often not discovered unless someone is specifically inspecting for it. 

With this townhouse, mold formation on a closet floor could have been easily overlooked. After all, we expect to find mold in those living areas of the home where there is water and moisture like kitchens and bathrooms, or at least where there are pipes. Fortunately, these homeowners caught the problem in its early stages, and the mold did not yet spread to other areas in the home.

The Mold Solutions By Cowleys crew follows strict protocols in treating mold. First, we applied our EPA registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1 to all of the mold-affected surfaces. 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. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that mold has been present in the attic for 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.

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.

Two members of the Mold Solutions by Cowleys crew arrived at a home in Spring Lake, NJ to treat extensive mold growth in the attic. The homeowners had belatedly found out that there was absolutely no ventilation in their attic space — and that’s a big problem! During the summer, attics can turn attics into saunas, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 120 or even 130 degrees. Without proper attic ventilation, moisture that rises up through the structure will condense in the attic, damaging studs and insulation, distorting and deteriorating roof shingles, radiating heat into the living spaces, and if that weren’t enough, trigger mold growth.

Prior to our arrival, the homeowners had their roof replaced and had made sure that the attic was being properly ventilated to prevent these problems from reoccurring. After gearing up, we first needed to remove and dispose of all the contaminated insulation. Once that was done, we applied our EPA-registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1, which 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.

Now, thanks to MAPS 1 & 2, mold will no longer be an issue in this home. 

Unfortunately, mold growth in non-living areas of the home is often not discovered until the pre-sale home inspection. For potential sellers, this unwelcome discovery can become a big headache that can potentially delay the sale until the mold problem is resolved. With this home in West Long Branch, NJ, mold was found in the basement utility room during the inspection. There was no plumbing leak or other water intrusion. Rather, mold had formed because of chronically high indoor humidity levels. High moisture levels in the air, which happens all too often in crawl spaces, basements, and attics, is more than enough to trigger dangerous mold growth!

This homeowner contacted Mold Solutions by Cowleys. Our team was able to treat the mold in less than a day. We treated the mold-affected areas of the basement with two applications. First, we applied an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented sealant available to licensed distributors (MAPS 2). This unique product not only kills expecting mold at the cellular level rendering it harmless and nonallergic, but also has moisture sensitivity. This sealant will reactivate to kill any future mold growth. We also wiped down any visible staining caused by the mold. Mold stains, residue of mold growth, are not themselves dangerous, but are unsightly and aesthetically unappealing.  

To control the humidity and prevent further mild growth, it is important to fix the underlying problem, which in this case, was high humidity levels. The seller chose to install a dehumidifier on his own as an accommodation to the purchaser. However, for homeowners looking for a powerful, long-term appliance, Cowleys carries SaniDry dehumidifiers. These rugged dehumidifiers are specially designed to work in basements and crawl spaces. They are maintenance-free — there is no water pan to empty and a built-in hygrometer constantly measures the room’s humidity, turning the machine on and off as needed.