Job Stories

Recently, we were sent out to a home in Allenhurst, NJ, to treat and eliminate mold that was discovered in the basement by the homeowner. As soon as we began inspecting the area, we found serious mold growth all along the cement walls in the basement. Using our hygrometer, we determined that the cause for the mold growth was high humidity levels in the basement. We reported our findings to the homeowner and then went right to work! First, we carefully removed all the contaminated materials in the basement and applied MAPS 1. MAPS 1 is an EPA registered antimicrobial that attacks mold at its DNA and instantly kills it. A short while later, we applied our mold stain remover and then scrubbed away all the mold stains. Next, we applied MAPS 2. This moisture-sensitive sealant encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it inert and non-allergenic. It'll also reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. Lastly, to control the high humidity levels in the basement, we installed a Sani Dry Sedona commercial-grade dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers cost less to run than other dehumidifiers, cover over 3000 square feet, and are energy efficient.

This customer in Deal, NJ, recently had a massive flood in his bathroom and hallway. As a result, mold grew all over the walls and shower. The damage and mold growth was so severe that we have no choice but to tear out and dispose of all the contaminated materials. With the owners' permission, we removed all the contaminated sheetrock, insulation, and tile and then properly disposed of them. Once we finished, we treated every square inch of the affected areas with a solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions, or MAPS 1 for short. MAPS 1 is our EPA registered antimicrobial that attacks mold at its DNA and kills it immediately. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away any and all mold stains. Lastly, we applied our moisture sensitive, patented sealant called MAPS 2. MAPS 2 will encapsulate the surfaces that the mold is growing on and render it non-allergenic, inert, and harmless. As an added bonus, whenever it gets wet, MAPS 2 reactivates to prevent any future mold growth.

A homeowner in Long Branch, NJ, had a roof leak that had gone undetected for quite awhile. Once discovered, they had the roof leak repaired by a qualified roofer. However, as often happens with roof leaks, the intruding water caused mold growth. Here, mold had started to grow in a closet. The homeowners contacted Mold Solutions by Cowleys to resolve the mold problem. A two-member crew arrived to treat the mold-affected areas. We treated the area with an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) followed by a patented sealant (MAPS 2). This sealant not only kills the current mold growth but is moisture-sensitive and will reactivate to kill any future mold growth in the areas where it is applied.  Finally, we wiped down any visible staining. Mold stains are a by-product of the mold enzymes consuming organic materials. While some mold stains can be removed, others are too deep in the building materials to be superficially scrubbed away. In those cases, the homeowner must either replace the materials or paint over the stains.  With this mold job, as with most of our projects, there was no loss of structural integrity to the building materials. In these situations, we treat the mold directly and leave the building materials alone. We finished this project in less than a day. The homeowner was quite pleased with our mold treatment process. We made his home mold-free without the time, expense, and disruption of a tear-out/renovation project. 

After 20 years of living in his home, this customer in Long Branch, NJ, decided it was time to sell it. The only thing stopping him was the massive amount of mold growth throughout the attic. So he called Mold Solutions for help and we were sent out. Attics provide an ideal environment for mold since they contain plenty of food sources such as wood and insulation. First, we treated the entire attic with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1, which stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions. MAPS 1 attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it immediately. Afterward, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the excess mold staining throughout the attic. Lastly, we treated every square inch of the attic with our patented sealant called MAPS 2. This application encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth!

Homeowners from Highlands, NJ, found themselves with a mold problem in their crawl space. This is an all-too-common occurence for Jersey Shore homeowners. We can have exceptionally high humidity levels build up in our basements and crawl spaces, especially during the summer months. A major misconception about mold is that you only have to worry about it following some major water intrusion event like flooding. Far from it, Moisture from chronically high indoor humidity levels is more than enough to trigger dangerous mold growth. Mold formation caused by high moisture and humidity levels accounts for most of the mold problems that we treat.  For these homeowners, a crew from Mold Solutions By Cowleys treated the mold in less than a day. For this job, we needed to remove the existing insulation and the vapor barrier. Both were covered with mold and unsalvageable. Next, we treated the mold-affected areas 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 the existing mold, but it also has moisture sensitivity. and will reactivate to kill future mold growth in the treated areas.  For long-term mold prevention, it is critical to deal with the underlying problem: Humidity. As long as this crawl space had sustained high humidity levels, it would be at risk for a returning mold problem. We installed a new vapor barrier, blocked the vents, and installed a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier with a condensate pump. These rugged dehumidifiers are designed to work in basements and crawl spaces. These machines are maintenance-free with no water pan to empty, and using a built-in hygrometer that constantly measures the room’s humidity, the machine turns on and off automatically as needed without human intervention.  With our mold treatment applications along with the dehumidifier installation and other improvements and upgrades, these homeowners now have peace of mind that their crawl space is mold-free, and even more important, will stay that way. 

A homeowner in Point Pleasant, NJ contacted Cowleys and wanted to install a 6 mil polyethylene (poly) vapor barrier in his crawl space in order to limit the moisture. Sealing an open crawl space with a vapor barrier can prevent moisture accumulation in your home, which can prevent wood rot and mold from developing.   Once we arrived, we equipped our personal protective equipment and began inspecting the crawl space. Unfortunately, within a few moments of our inspection, we found mold all over the floor joists. After measuring the moisture in the crawl space with our moisture reader, which is a device used to measure the moisture content in the pores of the wood, we determined that the cause of the mold was due to excessive moisture in the basement.    One of the main causes of mold in a crawl space, attic, or basement, is high moisture levels. Mold is a living, breathing fungus that multiplies and will continue to spread as long as the conditions in the home remain conducive to mold growth. In cases where there is structural damage from the moisture, materials would need to be removed. However, in this case, there was no structural damage so, with our treatment process, we are able to kill mold in its place.  First, we removed all the debris from the crawl space and then installed the 6 mil poly vapor barrier. After installing the vapor barrier, we applied an EPA-registered, non-toxic antimicrobial solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1 (MAPS 1). MAPS 1 breaks down mold at a cellular level and kills it instantly. Once that solution dried, we applied a patented sealant (MAPS 2), This moisture-sensitive sealant encapsulates mold, rendering it inert, harmless, and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 reactivates when it gets moist to prevent the growth of any future mold colonies. The homeowner wasn’t happy that he had mold in his basement, but was relieved that we treated it. 

This homeowner in Carteret, NJ had a water intrusion in her first-floor bathroom because of a leaky pipe and had gone unnoticed for quite some time. This triggered extensive mold growth behind the sheetrock. First, we removed the water-damaged sheetrock that had lost its structural integrity and could not be salvaged. Next, we applied our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This treatment attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold growth. Lastly, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2, which is a moisture-sensitive application that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. After killing the mold dead in its tracks, we replaced the sheetrock with a new piece!