East Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Birling Gap
A careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Birling Gap, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Leaks that return after repairs
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Birling Gap
ELD suits many waterproofing membranes on flat roofs, on homes, blocks and commercial buildings. It helps trace a leak you already have or check a new membrane before handover. Each roof is quoted on its size and build-up. Testing can be carried out on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays when conditions allow. Let us know about your roof to find out more. We survey roof terraces and balconies, liquid-applied waterproofing and flat roof membranes, and common reasons people get in touch are new membranes needing a check before handover and patched roofs that still leak.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Birling Gap 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, typically show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
The report records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Birling Gap (BN20)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords and agents in Birling Gap book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the flat roof membrane, useful for planning maintenance.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
What this survey can’t tell you
It is a careful look at the flat roof membrane, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Repairing the breaches (that is for your roofer)
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
How the survey works
We will ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Somewhere like Birling Gap needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start by finding out what the roof is made of and where it leaks.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
Before the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know where you stand. 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 use the contact form.
Advice
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Use boards when working on the roof
- Don’t keep patching the same spot
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
File the report with your roof paperwork. It is a dated record of the membrane’s condition.
Limit foot traffic on flat roofs. Feet and dropped tools are a common cause of holes.
What else we do in Birling Gap
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Leave it or get it looked at?
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is simpler. Once layers are added, finding a breach is harder. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book us in Birling Gap
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Birling Gap questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Birling Gap, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Is Birling Gap within the area you cover?
Yes, Birling Gap is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Will you check the loft?
Usually, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Can every flat roof be tested?
That depends on the roof’s membrane and layers. Share any details you have and we will confirm suitability.
What electronic leak detection looks like in Birling Gap
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Birling Gap, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Next to the main roofs there’s normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you let a flat or house near Eastbourne station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. Alfriston Clergy House lies about 4.7 miles north-west, so building around Birling Gap goes back a long way. If your home is older, its flat-roofed extension or dormer may be on its second or third covering.
Birling Gap is about 5 miles south-east of Seaford, in East Sussex. We visit Birling Gap as part of our work across East Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across East Sussex, we cover Birling Gap. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Electronic leak detection in BN20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover East Dean (1 mile north), Friston (1 mile north), Meads (3 miles east), Holywell (3 miles east) and Old Town (3 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Eastbourne (5 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles north-east), Seaford (5 miles north-west), Lewes (13 miles north-west), Hailsham (9 miles north) and Newhaven (8 miles north-west).
Near you in Birling Gap
Birling Gap’s nearest station is Eastbourne station, roughly 3.9 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find Eastbourne District General Hospital (4.1 miles north-east) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (3.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.