Greater London · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Coombe, Greater London
Find out the condition of the flat roof membrane at your property in Coombe. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Damage from equipment installers
- Leaks showing away from the breach
Electronic leak detection in Coombe: what you get
Not every flat roof suits electronic testing. Some membranes conduct electricity themselves, and some build-ups lack the layer the test needs below the membrane. We will say if ELD will not work on your roof before any testing. Any details you have about the membrane and build-up help us decide, such as drawings or specifications. It avoids arranging a test that can’t give results. Common reasons to book are patched roofs that still leak and water coming in under a flat roof, on roof terraces and balconies, single-ply roofs and commercial flat roofs.
Commercial and residential blocks across London often have big flat roofs with plant, rooflights and access walkways. Each pipe, upstand and fixing through the covering is a possible weak point. For a building in Coombe, access is agreed with whoever manages the roof ahead of the visit. Plant bases, rooflights and cable entries are all places where water can get in.
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.
- Location
- Coombe (KT2, KT3, SW20)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply can be punctured by tools or fixings. Testing helps find them.
Bituminous membranes
Many flat roofs use bitumen-based membranes. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
Flat and commercial roofs around Coombe
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. Historic houses such as Southside House, about 1.4 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Coombe goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Parking in Coombe, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door can’t be promised. For businesses in and around places such as Bentall Centre, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks.
Coombe is about 1 mile north of New Malden, in Greater London. Coombe gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small. We also survey roofs in London.
Here we cover the KT2, KT3 and SW20 postcode area for electronic leak detection. Whether your property is on West Road, Crown Road and Traps Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Coombe, we cover Motspur Park (1 mile south-east), Coombe Hill (1 mile north), Kingston Vale (1 mile north-east), Norbiton (1 mile south-west) and New Malden (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include London (9 miles north-east), City of Westminster (8 miles north-east), Marylebone (8 miles north-east), Kensington (6 miles north-east), St Pancras (10 miles north-east) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Coombe
Typical jobs here are in homes near Canbury School, Coombe Girls' School and The Royal Oak Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Norbiton station, roughly 1 mile south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Bentall Centre (1.8 miles west) and White Lodge Museum (1.8 miles north). The countryside around Coombe includes Kew Gardens Lake and Kingston Hill Road area.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Coombe
Joints and laps in a membrane can fail over time. Small openings at laps can leak for months before it shows.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Holes left by work on the roof
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
For an older house near a landmark such as Christ Church New Malden, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
How we price electronic leak detection
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How big the roof is
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Getting in touch
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Anything about access we should know
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes more time on a big roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is often on a shared landing. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Before we arrive
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you’re ready.
Advice
Places near Coombe
Also in Coombe
Coombe questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Coombe?
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.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Coombe?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway when booking. That way the visit can be planned around it.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll explain what’s needed.
What’s the price of ELD?
We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. The price depends on the roof’s size and build-up. To get a quote, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How long does electronic leak detection take?
Testing typically takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too.
Can you test a green or ballasted roof?
On some roofs, yes. Covered roofs limit the methods we can use so we look at the roof first.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Have roof specifications to hand
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Check new waterproofing before handover
Keep the report with the roof’s records. It shows the condition of the membrane on that date.
Keep outlets and gutters on flat roofs clear. Water that sits on the roof finds breaches faster.
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.