Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Childrey Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Childrey, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Leaks showing away from the breach
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Damage from equipment installers
How electronic leak detection works in Childrey
ELD suits many waterproofing membranes on flat roofs over offices, units, blocks of flats and homes. It helps trace a leak you already have or to test a new membrane before it is covered. We quote for each roof based 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. Common reasons to book are breaches around outlets and penetrations and stains far from any visible defect, across flat roof membranes, commercial flat roofs and green roofs.
Some older homes in villages like Childrey are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
The report records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Childrey (OX12)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Childrey: your questions answered
Do you cover Childrey?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Is my home in Childrey listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
What is electronic leak detection?
ELD passes a small electrical current across the roof to locate holes in the membrane. A breach lets the current through so we can pinpoint it.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Does electronic leak detection work on all membranes?
Not every roof is suitable. Certain membranes are conductive and some roofs lack the layer the test needs. If your roof will not work, we’ll say so at the start.
How the survey changes by roof type
Inverted and paved roofs
If the build-up rules out ELD, we’ll say so.
Bituminous membranes
Bituminous felt and modified bitumen membranes are common. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
Also near Childrey
Other services in Childrey
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Around Childrey, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- We mark the breach locations in our records.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Why it’s worth a survey now in Childrey
Testing a new membrane before it’s covered is easier than tracing a leak later. Covered roofs are harder to test. For older village homes like those around Childrey, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
All our prices include VAT. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. You’ll know the price for your survey before you book.
Why book with us
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Useful tips for Childrey property owners
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask contractors to protect the membrane
- Limit access to the roof
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
After your roofer repairs the breaches, a retest can confirm them if the build-up allows.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when they work up there. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
Electronic leak detection around Childrey
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. If you look after a building such as The Ridgeway Church of England (C) Primary School, a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Childrey is about 2 miles west of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Childrey as part of our work across London and the South East. Childrey is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for electronic leak detection. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Electronic leak detection in OX12 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need electronic leak detection at a property on High Street, Hollow Way and Stowhill or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover West Challow (1 mile north-east), East Challow (1 mile east), Letcombe Regis (1 mile south-east), Letcombe Bassett (2 miles south-east) and Wantage (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Didcot (10 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (11 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north), Carterton (14 miles north), Grove (3 miles north-east) and Faringdon (7 miles north-west).
Near you in Childrey
We work in homes and buildings around King Alfred's and The Hatchet Public House. Other landmarks nearby include Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection (3.8 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Letcombe Valley and Chain Hill.