Essex · London and the South East
Cattawade Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes across Cattawade, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
What this survey cannot tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
Electronic leak detection in Cattawade: what you get
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. The right method depends on the membrane and the build-up of the roof and we explain which we will use. If neither method suits your roof, we will tell you before any testing starts. We survey green roofs, flat roof membranes and liquid-applied waterproofing, and common reasons people get in touch are damage from equipment installers and leaking laps in the waterproofing.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Cattawade take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, 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.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Cattawade (CO11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Electronic leak detection around Cattawade
Cattawade lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Castle House, about 2.9 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Cattawade. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Brooklands Primary School will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. For landlords with property near Manningtree station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Cattawade is in Essex. Anywhere in Cattawade, we can carry out electronic leak detection at your property. Across Essex, we cover Cattawade and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CO11 postcode area for electronic leak detection and the streets around it. We cover properties on Temple Pattle, Grimwade Close and Hardy Close and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Brantham (1 mile north), East End (1 mile north), Manningtree (1 mile south), Lawford (1 mile south) and Mistley (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (8 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (12 miles south), Harwich (9 miles east), Camulodunum (10 miles south-west), Greenstead (7 miles south-west) and Wivenhoe (8 miles south-west).
What’s near Cattawade
We work in homes and buildings around The Ark pub and Manningtree High School, among other places. The closest station to Cattawade is Manningtree station, roughly 1 mile south-west. Nearby you will also find Little Wenham Castle (3.8 miles north) and The Munnings Museum (2.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Cattawade Marshes and Alton Water.
How the survey changes by roof type
Green and ballasted roofs
Testing before planting or ballast goes on is simpler.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid waterproofing has no laps but holes and thin areas can occur. Suitability for ELD depends on the system.
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Do not keep patching the same spot
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Share any drawings of the roof
If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us. We can talk you through the findings.
Keep people off the flat roof unless they need to be there. Many breaches come from foot traffic.
When to book a survey in Cattawade
Repeated leaks after repairs suggest the real breach hasn’t been found. Electronic testing helps pinpoint it.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- A flat roof leak that cannot be traced
If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael and All Angels, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- When you’ll get the report
Questions from Cattawade
Do you cover smaller places like Cattawade?
Yes, Cattawade is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Cattawade is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
Does ELD include fixing the breach?
No, our part is finding the breaches. The report gives your roofer the locations.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What affects the cost of electronic leak detection
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Anything about access we should know
- What kind of property and roof it is
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Towns and villages near Cattawade
Other services in Cattawade
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where it applies. The survey normally takes as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. In a hamlet or village like Cattawade, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.