Kent · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Alkham, Kent
Get a clear view of the flat roof membrane at a property in Alkham. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Holes left by work on the roof
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Electronic leak detection in Alkham: what you get
There are different ELD methods. Low-voltage testing is normally done with the surface wet and high-voltage methods need the membrane dry and exposed. Which one suits depends on the membrane and the layers of the roof and we explain which we will use. We will say if your roof doesn’t suit either method at the outset. We’re often asked to look into leaks through a covered membrane and punctures from foot traffic or tools, on green roofs, single-ply roofs and roof terraces and balconies.
In a village or hamlet like Alkham, flat roofs are usually on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. We simply plan the journey and access ahead of time. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when you book.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Alkham (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Alkham
Other services in Alkham
Alkham questions
How do I find out if my home in Alkham is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Alkham?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Can you find leaks on a covered flat roof?
In some cases. It depends on the build-up and the layers above the membrane, and some may need lifting. We’ll discuss it before we quote.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from the ground, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us as you book.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Older roofs in small places like Alkham can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- First, you let us know about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- We pick the low-voltage or high-voltage method that suits the roof.
- We test the membrane and find where current is passing through it.
- The breaches are recorded with photos in a report for your roofer.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Common roof problems in Alkham
When the membrane is buried, holes can’t be seen at all. Electronic methods can help on some of these roofs though it depends on the layers.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
For landlords with property near Kearsney station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
What to check before booking
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether the price includes VAT
Why get it checked now?
Patching where you think the leak is often misses it. Testing shows where the membrane is actually breached. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Alkham, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
All our prices include VAT. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Why book us in Alkham
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
What electronic leak detection does not cover
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Repairing the breaches (that’s for your roofer)
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Sections we can’t safely access
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Single-ply roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Electronic leak detection around Alkham
Alkham lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. About 3.9 miles west lies Acrise Place, a reminder of how long the area around Alkham has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Anthony the Martyr, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear.
Alkham is about 3 miles west of Dover, in Kent. Alkham gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at what can safely be seen, photos and a clear written report. Our Kent coverage includes Alkham. Canterbury is in our area too.
Here we cover the CT15 postcode area for electronic leak detection. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on Alkham Valley Road, Hogbrook Hill Lane and Newlyn's Meadow. Close by, we survey roofs in South Alkham (1 mile south-west), Chalksole Green (1 mile north-west), Ewell Minnis (1 mile north), Wolverton (1 mile north-east) and Drellingore (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (15 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-west), Deal (9 miles north-east) and Hythe (8 miles south-west).
Around Alkham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Sladden Wood and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Kearsney station, about 2.3 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Folkestone Castle (3.7 miles south-west) and Crabble Corn Mill (2.6 miles east). The countryside around Alkham includes Dover Western Heights and Sugar Loaf Hill.
How the survey changes by roof type
Green and ballasted roofs
Some layers may need lifting for testing. We discuss this before quoting.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Testing a liquid-applied roof depends on what’s beneath the coating.