Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Charlton, Hertfordshire
We take a careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Charlton, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- A flat roof leak that cannot be traced
- Gaps at membrane joints
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Charlton
Our ELD testing covers flat roofs in Charlton and the rest of London and the South East. Testing typically takes more time on a big roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Every roof is quoted on its size and build-up. The results come in a written report with photos. If you’ve noticed leaks showing away from the breach and leaking laps in the waterproofing, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flat roof membranes, commercial flat roofs and single-ply roofs alike.
In a village or hamlet like Charlton, flat roofs are normally on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. We simply plan the journey and access beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Charlton (SG5)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Charlton
Do you carry out roof surveys in Charlton?
Yes, Charlton is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you come out to Charlton?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Can you test a green or ballasted roof?
It can be possible, depending on the roof. Covered roofs limit the methods we can use, so we check the build-up first.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Does ELD include fixing the breach?
No. We test the membrane and report. You get the breach locations with photos so your roofer can fix them.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
What does electronic leak detection do?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there’s a hole, it passes through. That lets us find breaches that are too small to see.
Also in Charlton
Flat roofs in Charlton
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
If you live in an older home near St Mary's Church, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start. If you own a rental within reach of Hitchin station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Charlton is about 1 mile south-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. In Charlton, as across Hertfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Charlton is one of the places in Hertfordshire we cover. There’s also a page for Milton Keynes.
Here we cover the SG5 postcode area for electronic leak detection. If you are just outside Charlton, we cover Gosmore (1 mile south-east), Hitchin (1 mile north-east), Benslow (1 mile north-east), Bearton (1 mile north) and Westmill (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south-west), Stevenage (5 miles south-east), St Albans (13 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south), Harpenden (9 miles south) and Hatfield (12 miles south).
Near you in Charlton
In Charlton, that means homes and buildings near Hitchin Boys' School, The Three Moorhens Public House and Kingshott School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Hitchin station, about 1.4 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include North Hertfordshire Museum (0.8 miles north-east) and Lister Hospital (3.3 miles east). Not far away are Markham's Hill and Oughtonhead Nature Reserve.
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Somewhere as small as Charlton, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start by finding out what the roof is made of and where it leaks.
- We check that the membrane and build-up suit electronic leak detection.
- We pick the low-voltage or high-voltage method that suits the roof.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- The breaches are recorded with photos in a report for your roofer.
Before the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Anything about access we should know
- What made you get in touch
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Charlton
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Charlton. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A visual inspection can miss tiny holes. ELD picks up breaches a visual check might miss, on suitable membranes. Older and listed buildings around Charlton may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Charlton
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- An independent view of the roof
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
What we’re asked to look at in Charlton
When the membrane is buried, holes cannot be seen at all. Electronic methods can help on some of these roofs though it depends on the layers.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Highbury Infant School and Nursery, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Their insurance cover
- How soon the report will arrive
- Which limits apply to the survey