Cowleys Pest Services Before & After Photos

A couple of raccoons had decided that the attic of this home in Wall Township, NJ, was a great place to reside in, so they did just that and the homeowner wasn't exactly a fan of that idea. So he called Little Rascals for help and we were sent out to safely remove and exclude them. 

Since the raccoons were entering the attic via the soffit-return, we installed a positive set over that area. This is comprised of a nose cone, which will guide the raccoons into a two-gaited, heavy-duty device that is attached to it. This is called a positive set, because we are positive that the raccoons will have no other way to exit except through our device! We also placed several baited devices nearby. A short while later, we successfully & safely retrieved the raccoons and relocated them to a new, humane environment.

We then went back to our trucks, fashioned a piece of sturdy metal flashing, and installed it over the soffit-return. We also disinfected the attic and installed a sturdy attic fan cover over the attic fan. The attic fan cover is made of heavy-duty 18 Gauge expanded Galvannealed steel mesh and will prevent raccoons, as well as all nuisance wildlife, from gaining access into the home via the attic fan.

A new client in Sea Girt, NJ, wanted Cowleys to add blown-in cellulose insulation to his attic. First, we removed all the old insulation and debris, disposed of them, and cleaned the area. Afterward, 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. Next, we installed Tight Shell Can Light Covers over the recessed lights in the attic. These are made of a fire-resistant material designed to stop unwanted air leakage through the recessed lights. 

Lastly, we added over 10 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation. This insulation has a higher R-value than standard fiberglass insulation, the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, resistance to mold and pests, and is eco-friendly! TruSoft is the perfect choice for attic insulation, as it maximizes home comfort and optimizes energy usage for year-round peace and savings.

After seeing one of our ads in the Clipper magazine, this homeowner in Sea Girt, NJ, decided to upgrade the insulation in his attic to blown-in cellulose insulation. After we inspected his attic and went over various options, he decided to have us air seal his attic and add TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation. 

First, we removed all the old fiberglass insulation as well as any debris in the attic and disposed of them. Next, we then 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. Lastly, we added over 10 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation, which will fill the attic to its recommended insulation levels. TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation has a higher R-value than standard fiberglass insulation, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, is resistant to mold and pests, and is eco-friendly!

Now, not only does the homeowner have a healthy and clean attic, but he will save a considerable amount of money on his energy bill!

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.