Hampshire · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Elson
Electronic leak detection in Elson from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Stains far from any visible defect
Electronic leak detection in Elson
ELD is a way of pinpointing breaches in a flat roof’s waterproofing membrane. It works with an electrical current which can only get through the membrane at a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see so your roofer knows exactly where to repair. You get a photo-illustrated written report of each breach found. We survey single-ply roofs, liquid-applied waterproofing and commercial flat roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are punctures from foot traffic or tools and leaks showing away from the breach.
In a smaller place like Elson, some flat roofs sit in the open, where wind can catch loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. The signs are splits, blisters and edges coming away, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
If any part of the flat roof membrane couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Elson (PO12, PO13)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about electronic leak detection in Elson
Is the coastal weather around Elson hard on roofs?
Often, yes. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Elson is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Is my home in Elson listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
What does electronic leak detection do?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there is a hole, it passes through. That lets us find breaches that are too small to see.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
How long will testing take?
It typically takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. For a survey in Elson, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- We check that the membrane and build-up suit electronic leak detection.
- We pick the low-voltage or high-voltage method that suits the roof.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
Before the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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What we can’t see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Carrying out the repair work
- Areas we cannot reach or that cannot be tested
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Elson
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Towns and villages near Elson
Also in Elson
Local flat roofs in Elson
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Elson, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
If you own a rental within reach of Portsmouth Harbour station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Take a building like Elson Infant School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Elson is about 1 mile north of Gosport, in Hampshire. We cover Elson and the rest of Hampshire, as part of our work across London and the South East. Elson is one of the places in Hampshire we cover.
Electronic leak detection in PO12 and PO13 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets such as Ham Lane, Quay Lane and Avery Lane, all of which we cover. Elson is on the A32, so it is easy for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Gosport (1 mile south), Forton (1 mile south), Bridgemary (1 mile north-west), Priddy's Hard (1 mile south-east) and Rowner (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Havant (8 miles north-east), Eastleigh (14 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles north-west), Horndean (9 miles north-east), Hedge End (10 miles north-west) and Waterlooville (7 miles north-east).
What’s near Elson
In Elson, that means homes and buildings near The Kings Head pub, St Vincent College and Brune Park Community School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Portsmouth Harbour station, roughly 2.1 miles south-east. A little further out are Search (1.6 miles south-east) and Portchester Castle (2.2 miles north-east). Open spaces near Elson include West of the River Alver and Portsdown Hill.
What we’re asked to look at in Elson
When the membrane is buried, holes cannot be seen at all. ELD can work on some covered roofs, depending on the build-up.
Look out for signs like these:
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Failed seams and laps
- Leaks showing away from the breach
- Waterproofing to test before it’s covered
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Thomas, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start.
Before booking anyone
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How soon the report will arrive
- Their insurance cover
What we look for on each type of roof
Liquid-applied waterproofing
What lies under a liquid coating decides if ELD will work.
Bituminous membranes
Bitumen roofs can often be tested electronically though the layers below matter.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
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.
Why get it checked now?
Opening up a roof to hunt for a leak is disruptive. ELD aims to locate the breach first so your roofer knows where to work. In an older home around Elson, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
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. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
Why book with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Every finding written up with photos
- 20+ years’ experience