Reading · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Arborfield Cross, Reading
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof membrane before you decide what to do next. We carry out electronic leak detection in Arborfield Cross.
- Patched roofs that still leak
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Leaks showing away from the breach
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. All told, expect longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. In a hamlet or village like Arborfield Cross, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First, you let us know about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- The roof is assessed to see if electronic testing will work on it.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- You get a report showing where each breach is, for your roofer to repair.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Arborfield Cross
Green roofs, ballasted roofs and roofs under paving are harder to test. The layers on top can limit the methods we can use and parts may need to be lifted. We talk this through before we quote. Any details of the build-up help, as they show what lies beneath the surface. We’ll tell you if the roof cannot be tested. We’re often asked to look into holes left by work on the roof and a flat roof leak that can’t be traced, across roof terraces and balconies, flat roof membranes and commercial flat roofs.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Arborfield Cross take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, normally show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Location
- Arborfield Cross (RG2)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Patching where you think the leak is often misses it. Testing shows where the membrane is actually breached. Older and listed buildings around Arborfield Cross may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Arborfield Cross
- An independent look at the roof
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
Places near Arborfield Cross
Other services in Arborfield Cross
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Arborfield Cross and across Reading can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Flat roofs in Arborfield Cross
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand.
Take an older house close to Church of St Bartholomew: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. For landlords with property near Winnersh station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Take a building like The Coombes Church of England Primary School: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Arborfield Cross is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Reading. In Arborfield Cross, as across Reading, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Reading coverage includes Arborfield Cross.
Every address in RG2 is covered for electronic leak detection. You will find streets such as Eversley Road, Chamberlain Gardens and Melrose Gardens, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Farley Hill (2 miles south), Swallowfield (3 miles south-west), Spencers Wood (3 miles west), Riseley (3 miles south-west) and Bramshill (4 miles south). Further out, we also cover Caversham (6 miles north-west), Norcot (7 miles north-west), West Reading (6 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (7 miles north-west), Caversham Heights (7 miles north-west) and Horncastle (6 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Arborfield Cross
Typical jobs here are in homes near Swan Inn, Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve and Bohunt School Wokingham and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Winnersh station, roughly 2.7 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Beaumys Castle (3.5 miles south-west) and Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2 miles north). The countryside around Arborfield Cross includes South Lake and The Marshes Local Nature Reserve.
Common questions in Arborfield Cross
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Arborfield Cross?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is Arborfield Cross within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
What happens after the survey?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
Sometimes. It depends on the build-up and the layers above the membrane, and some may need lifting. We’ll discuss it before we quote.
How do you choose the testing method?
The roof decides the method. You’ll know which method we plan to use before we start.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
What we cannot see
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
- How wet the insulation is
- Repairing the breaches (that’s for your roofer)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Flat roof membranes
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Let us know about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Find the breach before more patching
- Test new membranes before covering them
You receive a report showing where each breach was found, with photographs. Your roofer uses it to carry out repairs.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It’s easier to find holes before more layers are added.