Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Combe
Electronic leak detection in Combe from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Holes left by work on the roof
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How electronic leak detection works in Combe
A leak in a flat roof often shows up a long way from where the water gets in. So the stain inside rarely sits under the hole. ELD tests the waterproofing directly and locates the breach. We test and report, and the repair is for your roofer. On suitable roofs, it replaces guesswork with a located breach. We then send you the results in a written report. We survey green roofs, roof terraces and balconies and flat roof membranes, and common reasons people get in touch are patched roofs that still leak and leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings.
In a small place like Combe, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, normally 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 records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Where
- Combe (OX29)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Combe
More services for Combe
Local flat roofs in Combe
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Next to the main roofs there’s normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. About 1.9 miles east lies Blenheim Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Combe has been built on. If you own one of the older houses, 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.
Take a building like Combe CofE Primary School: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. If you own a rental within reach of Combe station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. The streets around a church like St Laurence's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Combe is about 5 miles north-east of Witney, in Oxfordshire. In Combe, as across Oxfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Combe and the places around it. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Every address in OX29 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Square Firs, Chatterpie Lane and Orchard Close. We also cover the places around Combe: East End (1 mile south-west), Stonesfield (1 mile north-west), Freeland (2 miles south), North Leigh (2 miles south-west) and Fawler (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (10 miles south-east), Banbury (15 miles north), Bicester (11 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (13 miles south-east), Witney (5 miles south-west) and Carterton (10 miles south-west).
Near you in Combe
In Combe, that means homes and buildings near The Cock Inn, among other places. The closest station to Combe is Combe station, about 0.8 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Morris Motors Museum (1.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Combe include Blenheim Farm.
Common questions in Combe
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Combe?
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.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Combe?
Yes, Combe is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Combe as anywhere else.
Is the repair part of the test?
No, our part is finding the breaches. The report gives your roofer the locations.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.
Which method do you use?
The method is chosen to suit the roof. Low-voltage testing typically needs a wet surface and high-voltage methods need the membrane dry and exposed.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We check everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the flat roof membrane as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It normally takes as long as needed for the roof’s area and construction, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. Cottages and farmhouses around Combe frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start by finding out what the roof is made of and where it leaks.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- The testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- We test the membrane and find where current is passing through it.
- You get a report showing where each breach is, for your roofer to repair.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Sections we can’t safely access
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Combe
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
What we look for on each type of roof
Bituminous membranes
Many flat roofs use bitumen-based membranes. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
EPDM rubber roofs
Certain rubber membranes are conductive which can limit electronic testing. We’ll say if the test won’t work.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Water trapped under a membrane can soak insulation and decking. Locating it early helps limit the damage. In a place like Combe, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Combe
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the flat roof membrane, which helps you plan work between tenancies.