Kent · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Capel-le-Ferne, Kent
Need electronic leak detection in Capel-le-Ferne? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
A lot can be seen 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.
About our electronic leak detection in Capel-le-Ferne
Some flat roofs can’t be tested electronically. Certain membranes conduct electricity and some roofs do not have a suitable layer beneath the membrane. We will say if ELD won’t work on your roof before any testing. Telling us what you know about the roof’s membrane and layers helps, such as drawings or specifications. It saves a wasted visit. We survey green roofs, roof terraces and balconies and commercial flat roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are water coming in under a flat roof and gaps at membrane joints.
Some older homes in villages like Capel-le-Ferne are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
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.
- Place
- Capel-le-Ferne (CT18)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Capel-le-Ferne
Other services in Capel-le-Ferne
What we cannot see
A survey is a close look at the flat roof membrane, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Carrying out the repair work
- How wet the insulation is
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up is not suitable
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
Flat and commercial roofs around Capel-le-Ferne
Capel-le-Ferne is within about 1 mile of the coast, so there’s 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. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
If you let a flat or house near Folkestone Central station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. For an older house near a landmark like St Radigund, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. Anyone responsible for a site like Capel-le-Ferne Primary School will know that schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Capel-le-Ferne is about 2 miles north-east of Folkestone, in Kent. Capel-le-Ferne is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Capel-le-Ferne is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for electronic leak detection. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Surveys in CT18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on New Dover Road, Alexandra Road and Clarence Road. Other places close to Capel-le-Ferne include Satmar (1 mile north-east), West Hougham (1 mile north-east), Drellingore (2 miles north), South Alkham (2 miles north) and Church Hougham (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Ashford (15 miles west), Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Dover (4 miles north-east), Deal (11 miles north-east), Hythe (6 miles west) and Tower Hamlets (4 miles north-east).
Near you in Capel-le-Ferne
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to East Cliff and Warren Country Park and The Valiant Sailor pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Folkestone Central station, about 2.4 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Folkestone Castle (2.3 miles west) and Royal Victoria Hospital (2.1 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Sugar Loaf Hill and Dover Western Heights.
Capel-le-Ferne questions
Is my home in Capel-le-Ferne listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Capel-le-Ferne, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
How does ELD work?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there’s a hole, it passes through. That is how we locate breaches you can’t see.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
What we look for on each type of roof
EPDM rubber roofs
EPDM rubber roofs often last 30–50 years, but punctures and seam failures still happen.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid-applied coatings form a seamless layer but holes and thin areas can occur. Whether ELD works depends on the coating and build-up.
Practical tips
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep outlets clear of debris
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Get leaks traced quickly
- Test new membranes before covering them
If water has been getting in, insulation under the membrane may be wet. That is something to discuss with your roofer, and moisture readings can help.
Keep outlets and gutters on flat roofs clear. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. In a small place like Capel-le-Ferne, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- First, you let us know about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- 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.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- We send a report with photos of each breach so your roofer can repair it.
Before the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
What happens if roof problems are left?
Cutting open a flat roof to find a leak can cause more damage. ELD aims to locate the breach first so your roofer knows where to work. Older cottages and farmhouses around Capel-le-Ferne can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.