Kent · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Broadstairs, Kent
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Broadstairs, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Patched roofs that still leak
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
Useful tips for Broadstairs property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
- Use boards when working on the roof
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Get leaks traced quickly
If anything in the report is not clear, ask us. We’ll explain what was found and what it means.
Limit foot traffic on flat roofs. Many breaches come from foot traffic.
About our electronic leak detection in Broadstairs
Some flat roofs cannot be tested electronically. Certain membranes conduct electricity, and some build-ups lack the layer the test needs below the membrane. If your roof isn’t suitable, we will tell you at the start. Telling us what you know about the roof’s membrane and layers helps, including drawings, specifications or the roofer’s paperwork. It avoids arranging a test that cannot give results. Common reasons to book are leaks showing away from the breach and a flat roof leak that can’t be traced, on single-ply roofs, green roofs and liquid-applied waterproofing.
Shops, surgeries, schools and small business units in towns like Broadstairs often have flat roofs. Out of sight, they tend to be forgotten until a leak appears, and by then the insulation underneath may be wet. A careful look at outlets, upstands and the membrane itself shows where it stands. If someone else manages the building, let us know so roof access can be arranged.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Broadstairs (CT10, CT9, CT12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Broadstairs
On a flat roof, water spreads under the waterproofing. The stain inside can be far from the hole which makes it hard to find by looking.
Look out for signs like these:
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
Anyone responsible for a site like St Joseph's Catholic Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Before booking anyone
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What they will not be able to tell you
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Prices for electronic leak detection in Broadstairs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- The size of the roof
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect what can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take a length of time set by the size of the roof and how it’s built, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. A visit in Broadstairs runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. If you will not be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- We mark the breach locations in our records.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Before the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
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Broadstairs questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Broadstairs?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is the coastal weather around Broadstairs hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Will you check the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
How much time does ELD need?
Testing normally takes a time that depends on the roof’s area and construction, which we set out in the quote.
Electronic leak detection in Broadstairs: local notes
Broadstairs lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Next to the main roofs there is typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you run a hotel or guest house in or near Broadstairs, a roof problem can mean rooms out of use. Quex Park lies about 4.7 miles west, so building around Broadstairs goes back a long way. Older homes nearby may have later flat-roofed extensions or dormers, frequently re-covered more than once.
Broadstairs is about 16 miles east of Canterbury, in Kent. Broadstairs is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
All of CT10, CT9 and CT12 is within our area for electronic leak detection. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Union Square and Church Road. Main roads around Broadstairs include the A254 and A255. We also cover Upton (1 mile south-west), St Peter's (1 mile north-west), Northwood (1 mile south-west), Kingsgate (2 miles north) and Northdown (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Deal (10 miles south), Herne Bay (13 miles west), Walmer (11 miles south), Whitfield (15 miles south-west), Sandwich (7 miles south-west) and Aylesham (14 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Broadstairs
Around Broadstairs, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Charles Dickens School, The Charles Dickens School and The Little Albion Inn. Broadstairs has its own railway station: Broadstairs station. A little further out are Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (2 miles north-west) and Westwood Cross (1.5 miles west). Not far away are Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
What we look for on each type of roof
Inverted and paved roofs
A terrace or paved roof hides the waterproofing. Suitability depends on the layers.
Bituminous membranes
Many flat roofs use bitumen-based membranes. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.