Cowleys Pest Services Before & After Photos
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Mice chew their way into Middletown, NJ home.
Recently Middletown Township, NJ homeowners contacted Cowleys after noticing some debris coming out from the drop ceiling in their finished basement. Upon arrival, I immediately went into the basement to inspect. I popped out the tile and immediately noticed that something had been chewing on the tile itself. I had a strong suspicion that this homeowner had a mouse infestation. After entering the home through gaps and cracks around the foundation, they will make their way through wall voids or travel on top of drop ceilings to forage for food and water. We see a substantial uptick of mouse infestations when temperatures drop and mice attempt to gain access inside our homes to overwinter to escape the harsh outdoor elements and forage for food and water.
Mice, as all rodents, have incisor teeth that constantly grow. To keep them at a reasonable length, they will gnaw on almost anything they can get their teeth around as well as grind their teeth as a way of slowing their growth. While inspecting the sill plate, I found the tell-tale sign of mice — the rice-like droppings they leave behind. Adjacent to this area, I noticed several wires going to the outside with a noticeable gap around them, allowing mice to enter. Gaps around pipes and wires entering the home are one of the more common entry points for rodents.
I vacuumed up the toxic droppings and then placed a rodent bait station on the sill plate. Mice will follow the same trail, so placing bait stations in their pathway is highly effective to reduce their populations. I temporarily sealed the gap around the wires using chew-proof copper mesh. The homeowners informed me that they would have their contractor permanently seal the gap with stucco to prevent a re-infestation. With mouse infestations, to permanently resolve the issue and prevent re-infestations, it is essential to locate and seal all of the potential entry points around the home.
Attic Insulation in Red Bank, NJ
After we inspected this homeowner's attic in Red Bank, NJ, we came to the conclusion that it was severely under-insulated. After bringing this to the homeowner's attention he wanted us to add blown-in cellulose insulation to his attic.
Some of the consequences of having an under-insulated attic are uncomfortable temperatures throughout the home, a lower R-value, and high heating and cooling costs. Adding blown-in cellulose insulation is a great way to improve the R-value in your attic, improve the home's energy performance, and upgrade your attic insulation. Our cellulose insulation is treated with non-toxic borate, giving it the highest Class-1 fire safety rating and is resistant to mold and pests.
Once we arrived we first needed to remove the current insulation and then sanitize and deodorize the attic. Once that was done we began to add in the blown-in cellulose insulation. This blanket of insulation will create a thermal barrier and dramatically increase the home's energy efficiency
Sealing Up a Squirrel Entry Point in Tinton Falls, NJ
After we safely and successfully removed several gray squirrels from this home in Tinton Falls, NJ, we now need to seal up their entry point to prevent any future intrusions from squirrels or any other nuisance wildlife.
There was a portion of the roof shingles that had a pretty big opening on both ends that was perfect for the squirrels to enter the home. After we disinfected the area, we installed sturdy, metal flashing on each end of the shingles, screwed them in place, and sealed them with a premium, waterproof adhesive.
Keeping the Groundhogs Out with Dig Defense® in Tinton Falls, NJ
A homeowner in Tinton Falls, NJ was having an issue with groundhogs harboring under her shed. Fortunately, at the time of our inspection, the groundhog had moved on and was no longer hiding under the shed. However, if nothing is done, the groundhog will return and continue to harbor under the shed and cause structural damage.
The best method to protect this shed is to remove all the debris surrounding it and install Dig Defense®. Dig Defense® is a below-ground fence system that is 15 inches deep and 4 feet across and protects structures against invasive nuisance wildlife and feral animals.
No More Clogged Gutters for Business Owner Thanks to RainDrop® Gutter Guards in Fair Haven, NJ
For years, this small business owner in Fair Haven, NJ has dealt with his gutters getting clogged, which caused some severe moisture issues as well as pest issues at his home business, which terrified his clients! The gutter screening he had wasn't cutting it and was actually causing more damage to his property!
So we removed the old gutter screening, cleaned the gutters, and installed RainDrop® Gutter Guards. This cutting-edge product provides maintenance-free, self-cleaning gutter protection for both new and existing gutters and is compatible with all roof types and gutter styles. Made of its own unique polypropylene blend, the RainDrop® Gutter Guard withstands severe storms, heat, and cold, is specially formulated to absorb heat from the sun, melting ice and snow quickly to keep water flowing, and blends seamlessly with the gutters.
We also installed end caps that closes off the system to keep out birds, bees, squirrels, and other nuisance pests. Most importantly, the self-cleaning gutter guards prevent build-up, keeping pests away, and creating a safer, more enjoyable environment! Another great feature is that RainDrop® doesn't change the look of the property and is invisible from the ground.