Before & After Photos

After over a decade of dealing with a freezing attic, this customer in Rumson, NJ contacted our Attic Systems division to come out and add some much needed blown-in cellulose insulation.

We removed what little fiberglass insulation there was in the attic, disposed of it properly, and then disinfected the area. After that we air sealed all the gaps and cracks in the attic. This is going to eliminate air flow between the living space and the attic - thereby improving energy efficiency. We then placed several measuring sticks throughout the attic to ensure that the proper amount of R-value is added to the attic. Finally, we added over 12 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation.

Not only does this fill the attic to its recommended insulation levels, but TruSoft insulation maximizes home comfort, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, is resistant to mold and pests, is eco-friendly, and optimizes energy usage for year-round peace and savings for the homeowner!

We returned for a follow up visit at this property in Bradley Beach, NJ to check on the mice activity. As we inspected our rodent bait stations that we set up around the exterior and interior of the home, we found that several of them had activity in them. So we replenished each and every single one!

After that, since the mice were able to get into the home by squeezing through several gaps around a number of utility pipes, we began excluding them! First, we stuffed each opening with chew-proof mesh, which mice HATE the taste and feel of. Afterward, we sealed them with a waterproof, premium adhesive. After that, we scheduled several additional follow up visits with the homeowner to comeback and replenish the bait stations until the mice are no longer infesting the property. 

A short while ago, this customer in Ocean Township, NJ, had squirrels infest the attic of his home via the gable vent. We were able to successfully and safely remove them from the home and relocate them to a new humane location. Afterward, we disinfected the entire attic.

In order to prevent any future intrusions from squirrels, as well as any other nuisance wildlife, we installed a louvered vent guard over every single one of the gable vents. This material is made out of heavy-duty Galvannealed steel, which means it won't rust, and is customized to accommodate vents of all shapes and sizes.

A homeowner in Deal, NJ had a “builder grade” metal crawl space entry door installed when the home was built. This door was definitely a contractor money-saver item — and it showed. Over a few years, the door failed to stand up the the wear-and-tear of the outdoor elements. When we arrived, the door was rusted out and rotted. It wouldn’t even close. This crawl space entry point was trouble waiting to happen, and we were surprised that wildlife had not yet exploited this weak spot and visited the crawl space. This was an open invitation. 

The homeowner knew that Cowleys had a specialized contractor division that handles a variety of crawl space improvements, up to and including full encapsulation. He contacted us for a replacement. We had the perfect item  — a customized Everlast door that’s specifically designed for crawl spaces. 

With this installation, the homeowner now had a crawl space door that would block rodents and possibly bigger critters like skunks, squirrels, and raccoons from gaining access and using the crawl space as their private nesting area.  Also, for homes with crawl spaces, homeowners have more to work about than just wildlife entry. These below-grade areas are notorious trouble spots for mold growth and other water-related issues, and these doors help do the job. Of course, there are other ways that water and moisture can infiltrate vented crawl spaces, but this door was an important start. 

Our installers love these Everlast covers because of their flexibility. They can be installed against wood framing or masonry, work exceptionally well, and have great aesthetics, blending in perfectly with the home’s foundation. These doors are made of a “bulletproof” hard durable plastic. Unlike wooden or metal crawl space covers, they don’t rot, warp, crack, or rust, and never need to be painted.  

Even though these covers form a tight seal over the crawl space access, they are super-easy to open for those rare occasions when homeowners or repair persons require entry. The door has four large, easy-to-grip knobs that twist off without a hitch. The door comes right off, and you’re in. 

The homeowner was quite pleased with the installation. With this small crawl space improvement, the crawl space now had a cover that actually worked. As an added benefit, the outside of the home looked much better.

A homeowner in Brick Township, NJ had water entering the crawl space area through the entry door. The homeowner was concerned about standing water in the crawl space, and rightly so. Stagnant water in the crawl space can trigger mold growth and is a major attractant for insects, rodents, and all sorts of nuisance wildlife. 

Even though the homeowner had a well-sealed entry door, rainwater was nevertheless still seeping in. To remedy the problem, we installed a Bilco StackWEL, a window well, to serve as a second barrier to prevent water entry. The Bilco Company manufactures a variety of USA-made specialized doors that are highly regarded in the building industry.  

By preventing standing water in problem areas around the foundation, and crawl space vent doors often top the list, you can prevent water seepage into the crawl space. These window wells are made of durable PVC (high density polyethylene), so they don’t warp or rot, and are corrosion resistant. These wells also have a grip-step design so it makes it easy to enter and exit the crawl space access area. We also dug a shallow trench, about one and one-half feet and installed a layer of stones that would collect water and filter it into the ground instead inside the crawl space. 

It may seem unusual to install a window well around a crawl space door. After all, we think of window wells installed around basement windows! In that situation, the well around the window — that semi-circular “dig-out” in front — has to be supported by some materials or the hole or well in the ground will eventually collapse. It is the exact same rationale why retaining walls are sometimes necessary. However, window wells can also serve the same purpose with below-grade crawl space doors where the home’s foundation is built in such a way where water is directed toward the crawl space door. 

As you can see by the before and after pictures. the aesthetics of the crawl space access was greatly improved after our installation.  With this second barrier in place and the placement of the stones to filter the water away from the foundation, the crawl space water intrusion issue was successfully resolved.