Mold Solutions by Cowleys Before & After Photos

A commercial customer in South Plainfield, NJ, had a slow pipe leak in a bathroom closet that had apparently gone unnoticed for quite some time. Finally, an employee noticed the stagnant water on the floor as well as mold growth. A plumber was called in to fix the leak prior to our arrival, but the customer was still left with dangerous mold growth that needed to be resolved. 

This business used Cowleys for its pest control needs and knew of our Mold Solutions Division. So we arrived, inspected, and began treatment. We treated all the mold affected areas with 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.

Finally, there were unsightly mold stains that we were scrubbed away using our stain remover. Even though the mold is completely destroyed, we do our best to remove any visible traces that there was once a mold problem. Mold stains are a residue from the enzymes in the mold. Stains themselves, unlike mold, are not allergenic or otherwise harmful to people. Nevertheless, mold stains are unsightly and aesthetically unappealing. As long as the stains aren’t too deep in the materials on which the mold has taken hold, we can get rid of all or most of them. Sometimes, if the staining is deep, the surface has to be painted over.

The customer was quite pleased that the mold problem could be resolved so quickly and without any tear-outs or renovations.

Mold was discovered on the beams in a very wet crawl space in Englishtown, NJ. We had to do an extensive clean out and clean up of the crawl space and then installed a commercial-grade dehumidifier to protect against high humidity. 

We treated these two areas of the building using our two-component MAPS (Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions) system. We first applied our EPA-registered anti-microbial solution called MAPS 1 and, afterward, thoroughly wiped down the areas to remove any visible mold growth.

Next, we applied MAPS 2, which is a patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it useless and non-allergenic. To control the humidity levels, we installed a SaniDry XP dehumidifier. 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

A homeowner’s hot water heater had cracked open in Jackson, NJ, flooding her basement. Within days, there was extensive mold growth on walls, ceiling, door, and even on some furnishings. If there is excess moisture or water, mold will grow on virtually anything. Mold lives off plant materials, and most of our building materials are wood products. Mold is especially attracted to drywall and acoustical tiling. Also, mold spores easily travel on air currents throughout the home, and the mold growing in the basement would inevitably spread throughout the home as the spores reattach elsewhere.

We arrived at the house, conducted an inspection to determine the scope of the problem and how to best treat the affected areas to contain the mold growth. We treated the surfaces with an anti-microbial that kills surface mold and airborne mold spores. We then removed all of the structurally damaged building materials. Often, we find mold growth on building materials that are not damaged. In those cases, we can resolve the mold problem without extensive removal of materials. We then applied our sealant that coats and kills the mold that prevents the spread of spores. In addition, this sealant is moisture sensitive and reactivates to kill any future mold growth. So, when we finish a mold project, we’ve not only removed the mold but we’ve also prevented mold from returning to those areas. For long-term mold control, I always stress to homeowners the importance of controlling indoor humidity levels by investing in a commercial-grade dehumidifier. Mold growth is not limited to water problems like flooding and leaky pipes. A mold problem can also result if there is excess moisture from high humidity levels.

A homeowner’s hot water heater had cracked open in Jackson, NJ, flooding her basement causing extensive mold growth. We treated the affected areas with our EPA registered solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1, also called MAPS 1. This product 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 mold non-allergenic and harmless. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

Just like in basements and crawl spaces, mold will grow in attics with consistently high relative humidity levels or, as I believe what happened in this home, a significant water intrusion from a roof leak. Although the roof leak had been repaired, the problem was that because of poor attic ventilation, mold had formed and colonized on the water-saturated wood. 

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. 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.