Before & After Photos

The Cowleys home improvement crew was sent to a home in Colts Neck to remodel the homeowner’s outdoor access to his crawl space. His old crawl space entry was cumbersome to open and close, and even worse, it provided virtually no protection from the outdoor elements. Whenever it rained, the current crawl space access allowed a stream of water to rush inside. The homeowner was concerned about standing water in the basement and the problems it could cause, and rightly so. Standing water in the crawl space is an open invitation for mold growth and is an attractant for mosquitoes, other insects, and all sorts of wildlife.

We wanted a crawl space access that was easy to use, blocked rainwater from entering, and provided protection from the outdoor elements. To meet these objectives, we replaced the entry cover with one of our Everlast doors. These Everlast vent covers completely block outside air and moisture from entering the crawl space. They can be installed against wood framing or masonry, work exceptionally well, and are aesthetically pleasing. Made with a hard durable plastic, they stand up to the worst weather conditions, and are completely maintenance free. They should never rot, warp, or crack and they never need to be painted. From out experience, they are virtually indestructible. Also, if you or a repair person needs crawl space access, they are easy to open. All you need to do is twist a few easy-to-grip knobs, and you’re in! 

Given this homeowner’s water issues, we wanted to have a second barrier to prevent water entry. We decided to install a product manufactured by the Bilco Company, which makes a variety of USA-made specialized doors and other specialty access products for the building industry, including the StakWEL window well. 

What’s a window well? And why would Cowleys want to install a window well around a crawl space door? Glad you asked!

Most basements have windows, especially finished basements since it’s nice to have some natural lighting and a way to let in outdoor air. Windows installed in basements that are mostly below-grade require window wells — those semi-circular “dig-outs” you find on the basement window’s exterior. This well needs to be supported by some materials or it will eventually collapse. 

Window wells help prevent water penetration around the window framing and window damage (Basement windows are prone to damage since they are at or near ground level.). Window wells also allow for emergency egress out of the basement. This is important because most local building codes require basement windows to provide emergency egress, in which case, the well needs a built-in steps or ladder. Window wells should also have covers to keep out leaves and debris and help prevent water and snow from collecting inside the well.

We decided to install a window well around this crawl space door for many of the same reasons that a homeowner would want to install one around their basement window. This homeowner was having a serious water intrusion problem whenever it rained. The safest course of action was to give him a second barrier in addition to the Everlast door, and the StakWEL window well fit the bill perfectly. It’s is made out of a tough corrosion-resistant high density polyethylene, and it’s modular, which greatly simplified installation. As a bonus, these wells have a grip-step design so you don’t have to have the agility of a mountain climber to enter and exit the crawl space access area. The window well also has an optional cover for extra protection against the elements. 

After we were done, the remodel of this crawl space access looked great, and we are confident that his water issues will finally be over. The homeowner was quite pleased, and he said that he’d let us know after the first heavy rain how his crawl space was holding up. We expect to here nothing but good news!

We went out on a service call for a homeowner in Colts Neck, NJ who was hearing birds chirping in his attic. As we arrived and began our inspection along the roof we discovered a severe "roofline gap" or a "builders gap.” This term refers to when the roof decking is left slightly shorter than the rafter ends creating a gap between the roof and the gutter. Although covered by a layer of shingles this gap extends the full roofline of your home and is an ideal place for wildlife and birds to enter. 

The gap was located under the last tab of shingles where the plywood meets the fascia board (the board behind the gutter). As we examined the gap, we found several birds nest inside. Birds nesting in your attic isn’t just annoying but is hazardous to your health. The nesting material they use can harbor many different types of parasites, including bird mites. Bird mites are microscopic parasites that feed on the blood of birds. They have flat, oval bodies, and are nearly white when unfed, but become bright red when recently fed. Once birds have abandoned their nests, bird mites migrate indoors from an abandoned nest, entering through the attic via openings in the ceiling or interior wall surfaces, and feed on the blood of humans. 

For treatment, we sanitized the nesting areas with a product that specifically targets bird mites and then carefully removed all the nests. Next, we installed a product called "leaf proof" all along the roofline gap. A leaf proof is made of an aluminum metal that slips under the bottom of the last shingle in between shingle and plywood and attaches to gutter with a small screw. This product still allows the water to run into the gutter but blocks and protects from birds and other animals from accessing the attic area. Now the homeowner's attic and gutter are properly protected from invasive wildlife and birds.

As temperatures drop, mice will seek refuge in your home to escape the harsh winter elements. For a mouse, your home is paradise — it’s always warm and cozy, there are plenty of nooks and crannies to hide, there’s plenty of nesting materials,  and your kitchen offers an unlimited food supply. , 

Whenever we are called out to resolve a rodent infestation, we not only treat the infestation. It is critical to determine how these disease-carrying animals are accessing your home. Here, in this home in Keansburg, I determined that mice were gaining access through gaps around AC lines entering the home. Utility and telephone lines entering your home to are common access points for small rodents like mice and they are always on the top of my “must inspect” list. A small gap around wiring or pipes that we easily overlook is, for a mouse, a wide-open entrance way that offers 24/7 access  into your home. Unfortunately, because of their diminutive size, mice can slip through the smallest of gaps and cracks, and these openings can sometimes be a challenge to find. I set up traps in the home and sealed the entry point to prevent further access. These pictures show the “before and after”  sealing of this entry point.

I’ll be returning for a follow-up visit in two weeks to make sure that these overwintering mice are gone for good. 

Some wily squirrels were able to successfully deceive a previously hired nuisance wildlife serve at this Keansburg, NJ home and escape capture. Apparently, the technician focused on looking up and over the roof of this home for potential access points to try and keep the squirrels out. To be sure, squirrels are arboreal rodents and they often initially access the home by first making their way to the roof, usually by either by traversing wires coming into the home or using overhanging branches as a roadway. However, squirrels don’t always access the home through the roof, fascia, or  soffits. Good wildlife technicians have 360 degree thinking and look at the entire picture, always taking into account every possibility.

I first asked the homeowner where she was hearing most of the wildlife activity. This often gives me a good starting point of where to start the inspection for entry points. She told me that most of the noise was coming from inside the wall voids of the first floor — nowhere near the roof or attic. Based on this, I decide to first inspect below rather than above. Sure enough, these squirrels were gaining access to the home behind the plaster walls of the living room from below the front porch.  

The best course of action was excluding them by setting up a one-way device over the opening that allowed them to leave the home, but prevent their return. For the rodents, it’s a one-way trip! After sealing this area and monitoring it for activity for two days, we sealed the opening for good.  We followed up with the homeowner who told us that she’s heard absolutely nothing in the walls after our exclusion. These squirrels were permanently evicted. Needless to say, after a few too many weeks of frustration, she was quite relieved that her squirrel problem was finally resolved.

Pigeons and seagulls can find landing spots on ledges and other areas of rooftops, especially on the Jersey shore. For this house in Beach Haven, NJ, the homeowners were having issues with nuisance birds making their roof the birds new home.

These birds were landing and roosting on the gutters, causing a mess. We installed bird spikes to deter these birds and send them elsewhere.