West Berkshire · London and the South East
Cold Ash Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection in Cold Ash from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Water coming in under a flat roof
Electronic leak detection around Cold Ash
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Historic houses like Shaw House, about 2.4 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Cold Ash goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you live in an older home near St. Mark's Church, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear. Take a building like Cold Ash St Mark's C.E. School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Cold Ash is about 2 miles north of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. Roofs in Cold Ash get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Berkshire. Across West Berkshire, we cover Cold Ash and the places around it. Reading is in our area too.
All of RG18 is covered for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Harewood Drive, Johnson's Lane and Walters Close. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Ashmore Green (1 mile south-west), Stone Copse (1 mile west), Longlane (2 miles north-west), Thatcham (2 miles south) and Wellhouse (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (3 miles south-west), Burghfield Common (9 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles south-west), Hungerford (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (13 miles east) and Calcot (9 miles east).
Landmarks near Cold Ash
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Kennet School, among other places. The closest station to Cold Ash is Thatcham station, roughly 2.3 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.8 miles south-west) and British Balloon Museum & Library Ltd (3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Cold Ash include Nature Discovery Centre.
How electronic leak detection works in Cold Ash
ELD is a way of pinpointing breaches in a flat roof’s waterproofing membrane. It works with an electrical current that passes through the membrane only where there is a breach. It can find holes too small to spot by eye, so your roofer can repair them. The results come in a report with photos. We survey roof terraces and balconies, commercial flat roofs and liquid-applied waterproofing, and common reasons people get in touch are leaks showing away from the breach and holes around roof penetrations.
In a small place like Cold Ash, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, frequently around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof membrane on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Cold Ash (RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Cold Ash
What else we do in Cold Ash
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Sections we cannot safely access
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Cold Ash
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
Practical tips
Getting the most from electronic leak detection starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Test new membranes before covering them
File the report with your roof paperwork. It’s a dated record of the membrane’s condition.
Keep people off the flat roof unless they need to be there. Many breaches come from foot traffic.
Do you need electronic leak detection in Cold Ash?
Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Some are too small to see, but still let water through.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Patched roofs that still leak
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Gaps at membrane joints
For landlords with property near Thatcham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Are they insured for the work?
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the flat roof membrane as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes a length of time set by the roof’s area and construction, which we set out in the quote. For a village or hamlet like Cold Ash, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- The test method is chosen to suit the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- A report with photographs shows where each breach is.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Let us know about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Single-ply membranes
Many offices and units have single-ply roofs. Seams and penetrations are typical breach points.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid-applied coatings form a seamless layer, but can still have thin spots or holes. Whether ELD works depends on the coating and build-up.
Cold Ash: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cold Ash?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Cold Ash within the area you cover?
Yes. Cold Ash is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you use low-voltage or high-voltage testing?
We choose the method that suits the roof. You’ll know which method we plan to use before we start.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Cold Ash
Cutting open a flat roof to find a leak can cause more damage. Electronic testing finds the hole first, so the repair can be targeted. Older cottages and farmhouses around Cold Ash can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Every price we give includes VAT. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. You will know the price for your survey before you book.
Why us?
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Visits on any day of the week
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.