Expert Mold Testing or Removal in Brick, NJ

The owners of a beach house in Brick, NJ found themselves with an unpleasant surprise when they returned to get the home ready for summer: there was mold growing behind a cabinet and drywall. They contacted Cowleys Mold Solutions and a two-man crew was dispatched to treat the mold. 

The homeowner wanted us to removing the cabinet, which was no problem. However, he was hoping to avoid a tear-out and replacement of the drywall panels that had developed mold. Since there was no structural damage to the drywall, we could potentially leave it in depending on whether there was some behind the drywall responsible for the mold growth, and whether we needed to access the area in order to fix the problem. Mold is a sign that a home has some type of water intrusion or chronic moisture from high humidity. While it is important to treat the mold, it is just as important to address the underlying problem that’s causing mold growth in the first place. Otherwise, the mold will return. To check behind the drywall, we cut out four small “peepholes” at the tops and bottoms of each moldy area of the drywall so we could visually access the wall void and determine the water source triggering the mold growth. As it turned out, a condensation drain for AC was dumping water into a bay directly above the mold-affected infected area. We repositioned the condensation line so it would drain water away from the home.

We treated the mold problem with our mold treatment process that that involves two separate applications. First, we applied an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) to the affected areas. Next, we applied our patented sealant (MAPS 2), for which Cowleys is a licensed distributor. This sealant kills molds on contact at the cellular level rendering it inert and harmless. Mold is dangerous because its airborne spores can cause various respiratory problems, and some strains of mold contain actual toxins. This sealant is also moisture-sensitive. If the conditions that trigger mold growth return, this sealant has the ability to reactivate and kill any new mold growth in the treated areas. The owners were pleased that we could complete this job in less than a day, that the drywall could be saved thereby avoiding a tear-out/renovation project. And, most important for them, there would be no delays in using the beach house over the summer.