West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Colwood, West Sussex
Know where you stand with the flat roof membrane before you spend money on it. Electronic leak detection in Colwood, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Holes around roof penetrations
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. It typically takes a time that depends on the membrane area and the build-up, which we’ll explain when we quote. For a village or hamlet like Colwood, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You let us know about the roof and where water is showing.
- We check whether the membrane and build-up suit ELD.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
For a price for electronic leak detection in Colwood, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Colwood
We carry out electronic leak detection on flat roofs in Colwood and across London and the South East. A visit typically takes a length of time set by the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we set out in the quote. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. You get a photo-illustrated written report. If you’re worried about leaking laps in the waterproofing and new membranes needing a check before handover, we can find out what’s behind it, on liquid-applied waterproofing, flat roof membranes and single-ply roofs alike.
Some older homes in villages like Colwood are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Colwood (RH17)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Other services in Colwood
Common questions in Colwood
Is my home in Colwood listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Colwood?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How do you choose the testing method?
The method is chosen to suit the roof. Low-voltage methods are normally carried out on a wet roof, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane.
How do I arrange electronic leak detection in Colwood?
Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
How does ELD work?
It uses an electrical current to find breaches in a flat roof membrane. A breach lets the current through, which shows us where the hole is.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
What affects the cost of electronic leak detection
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Roof area
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
Helping us price your survey
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Anything about access we should know
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Different roofs, different checks
Single-ply membranes
ELD often works on single-ply membranes, depending on the type and build-up.
Bituminous membranes
ELD is often possible on bituminous membranes though the layers below matter.
Tips that help
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Get leaks traced quickly
- Use boards when working on the roof
- Find the breach before more patching
- Limit access to the roof
If water has been getting in, insulation under the membrane may be wet. Your roofer can advise on that and other checks can help judge it.
Limit foot traffic on flat roofs. Many breaches come from foot traffic.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Landlords and agents in Colwood book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the flat roof membrane, useful for planning maintenance.
When to book a survey in Colwood
Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Some are too small to see but water still finds them.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Holes around roof penetrations
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks showing away from the breach
Around Colwood, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Will the report include photos?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What they will not be able to tell you
Flat and commercial roofs around Colwood
Tyes Place, about 3.4 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Colwood. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
Colwood is about 5 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Surveys in Colwood work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Colwood is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for electronic leak detection. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Every address in RH17 is covered for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Earwig Lane and Cross Colwood Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Crabtree (1 mile north-west), Lower Beeding (2 miles north-west), Slaugham (3 miles north), Plummers Plain (3 miles north) and Monk's Gate (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (6 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
Around Colwood
In Colwood, that means homes and buildings near Leonardslee, among other places. A little further out are The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (3.7 miles east). The countryside around Colwood includes Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.