Cowleys Pest Services Before & After Photos

After noticing some water pooling in his dirt floor crawl space, this homeowner in Sea Girt, NJ, called our Crawl Space Division to determine the cause and discuss possibly encapsulating his crawl space. Dirt floor crawl spaces attract and absorb moisture and once the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise and can lead to mold and mildew issues (fortunately, there was no mold or mildew in the crawl space). After speaking the owner, he decided that he wanted to encapsulate his crawl space!

First, we removed all the debris and old insulation, leveled the ground for proper draining, and installed drainage matting, which is a dimpled plastic mat that allows all excess moisture to work its way over to the sump pump. Next, we installed a SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump. The SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump protects vulnerable crawl spaces by combining an intelligent WaterWatch® alarm system with a sump pump that's specifically designed for crawl spaces. Additionally, both the lid and floor drain are specially designed to prevent collected water from evaporating back out into your crawl space. Any water from a plumbing leak or sump failure must first pass by the alarm and will then drain down into the sump. The alarm will sound immediately if this happens, so you'll know you have a leak in your crawl space.

We also cleaned off all the beams in the crawl space and installed SilverGlo™ on the walls of the crawl space. SilverGlo™ is a waterproof foam insulation that seals the walls from outside moisture and humidity. Next, we installed a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. By encapsulating the crawl space & installing the vapor barrier over the foundation walls and floor will create a continuous air and moisture barrier. The vapor barrier is extremely durable and is treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold. 

Lastly, to control the humidity levels in the crawl space, we installed a Sedona dehumidifier. This is a powerful, energy-efficient, commercial-grade dehumidifier that outperforms standard household dehumidifiers by as much as 10 times while using the same amount of energy to run. Now the homeowners have a clean and healthy crawl space as well as an additional area in their home for storage.

This summer, residents in a residential development in Mantaloking, NJ found themselves with a serious nuisance bird problem. The property manager contacted Bird Solutions By Cowleys for us to take care of the problem. Seagulls had taken over the community’s outdoor pool area. Suffice it to say, it’s difficult to enjoy a pool area while birds are hovering and circling a few feet overhead looking for scraps of food. And if you want to take a dip in the pool, you would be swimming with their feathers and fecal matter. Not exactly refreshing! 

Permanent residents and those with summer homes in Mantaloking or any of the other towns on the Jersey Shore, often find themselves with seagull issues on their property. It’s hardly surprising since these coastal regions are their natural habitat. Without a doubt, gulls are one of the most problematic nuisance birds for those who live in coastal New Jersey towns.. 

Although we like to think of gulls gracefully diving into the ocean to nap an unsuspecting fish, the reality is that these birds eat far more than aquatic life, and just like pigeons, they thrive in human habitats. Gulls are opportunistic scavengers that will consume virtually anything and we give them plenty of food waste to thrive. A major problem with these birds is their prodigious waste. Their thick white glue-like droppings are filled with pathogens and are a nightmare to clean. Their waste can cause property damage. It is acidic enough to disintegrate roofing materials and cause roof leaks!

With gulls and other nuisance birds, we don’t seek to kill or harm them. In fact, birds classified as migratory birds are federally protected and harming them is illegal. Our focus is on bird control — we want to change their behavior. We employ various deterrents to create a hostile environment so they get frustrated, abandon your property, and go bother someone else. 

For this particular situation, the most effective deterrent was an “eagle eye.” This highly effective optical bird “scarer” can be attached to the peak of a roof or anywhere else that gulls are landing and congregating. As the wind catches the device, it spins and emits an annoying large glare that distracts them and limits their vision. The reflected light beams are so uncomfortable that the gulls will divert their flight and head away from your property. Different bird species have different sensitivities to certain colors. This red eagle eye is designed and used primarily to repel gulls, and it works exceptionally well in large, open areas (like this pool area) that gulls find attractive. This gull problem will be completely eliminated as the birds seek out more hospitable locations where they are not bothered by a blinding light every time they attempt to land. 

Previously our Pest Control Division had eliminated all the mice that were infesting the crawl space area of this home in Mantoloking, NJ. The were mice were getting in through the broken and rusty crawl space vent, so we're here to replace it!

First, we removed the old vent and cleaned the area. Afterward, we installed an Insulated Smart Vent®. This not only will prevent mice, nuisance wildlife, and other pests from infesting the crawl space, but also keeps outside air away, along with all the moisture, winter cold, and summer heat it brings with it. A SmartVent® is designed to remain in the closed position until rising floodwater comes into contact with the vent. Water contact triggers an internal float mechanism that unlatches the door. In the open position, vents blunt the destructive force of floodwater by providing a path through the foundation. By equalizing water pressure instead of fighting it, your foundation can survive a flood without collapsing.

This customer finally purchased his dream home in Mantoloking, NJ! Before he can start moving in, he wanted our Attic Systems division to come out and add some much needed blown-in cellulose insulation to his attic. 

It was noted in the home inspection that there were mice present in the attic. Fortunately, they were removed and no longer there, but their droppings were scattered throughout the attic! First, we carefully cleaned up all the mice droppings and disinfected the attic. Next, we air sealed all the gaps and cracks in the attic. This will eliminate air flow between the living space and the attic, improving energy efficiency. Afterward, we added over 10 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation throughout the attic. TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation maximizes home comfort, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating & is resistant to mold and pests.

Lastly, we installed an attic door insulation cover. This attic door insulation cover is made of high-quality fireproof materials and 2 layers of aluminum, which can effectively block heat transfer, makes indoor temperature more pleasant, and provides a comfortable and healthy environment.

This homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ, was fed up with squirrels and nuisance birds nesting on the joists of his deck. After doing some research, he called Little Rascals by Cowleys for help and we were sent out! 

To exclude squirrels, birds, and other nuisance wildlife, we disinfected the joists and installed Pest-Blok. Pest-Blok undergoes a silicone-protected polyester coating process that makes it last longer and guards the area against squirrels, birds, and other nuisance wildlife.