West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Birdham, West Sussex
Electronic leak detection in Birdham and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Waterproofing to test before it’s covered
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Gaps at membrane joints
FAQs for Birdham
Is the coastal weather around Birdham hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows, and Birdham is within about 2 miles of the coast.
Is my home in Birdham listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How long will testing take?
The roof’s size and build-up decide how long it takes. You will know roughly how long before we start.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Can you find leaks on a covered flat roof?
On some roofs, yes. Covered roofs limit the methods we can use, so we check the build-up first.
Do you work in Birdham?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Birdham included.
How electronic leak detection works in Birdham
ELD can be carried out in more than one way. Low-voltage methods typically need a wet roof surface 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 will explain our choice. If neither method suits your roof, we will tell you at the outset. Typical surveys look at leaks through a covered membrane and leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings, across liquid-applied waterproofing, commercial flat roofs and single-ply roofs.
In a small place like Birdham, a flat roof can stand in the open, 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. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Birdham (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Birdham
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:
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
For an older house near a landmark like St James' Church, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Are they insured for the work?
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
If water has been getting in, insulation under the membrane may be wet. Your roofer can advise on that, and moisture readings can help.
Keep people off the flat roof unless they need to be there. Many breaches come from foot traffic.
The survey, step by step
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. All told, expect longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Around Birdham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- We check that the membrane and build-up suit electronic leak detection.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
How to prepare
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Roof by roof
Green and ballasted roofs
Green roofs and ballasted roofs cover the waterproofing. Some methods can work through these layers, depending on the build-up.
Inverted and paved roofs
On inverted roofs, insulation sits above the membrane and that changes how testing works.
Why act early in Birdham
Some breaches are too small to see. Electronic testing can find breaches you can’t see by eye, on suitable membranes. For an older or listed building in a place like Birdham, repairs may need matching materials and consent, 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 safely it can be seen. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Electronic leak detection in Birdham: local notes
Birdham lies within about 2 miles of the sea, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
Anyone responsible for a site like Birdham CE Primary School will know that schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. Landlords with a home close to Fishbourne station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Birdham is about 4 miles south-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Surveys in Birdham work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
All of PO20 is within our area for electronic leak detection. Local streets include Old Common Close, Main Road and Walwyn Close. Other places close to Birdham include Somerley (1 mile south-west), Almodington (1 mile south), Shipton Green (1 mile west), Highleigh (2 miles south-east) and Earnley (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (6 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north-east), Selsey (5 miles south-east), Littlehampton (13 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (14 miles east).
What’s near Birdham
We work in homes and buildings around The Birdham Public House, among other places. The closest station to Birdham is Fishbourne station, about 3.3 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Chichester Castle (4.1 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (4.4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Birdham include Pilsey Island.
Nearby places to Birdham
Other services in Birdham
What electronic leak detection doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Carrying out the repair work
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
- Areas we cannot reach or that can’t be tested
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Birdham
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Single-ply roofs