West Berkshire · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Englefield, West Berkshire
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Englefield, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Patched roofs that still leak
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Englefield
There are different ELD methods. Low-voltage methods typically need a wet roof surface, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane. The right method depends on the membrane and the build-up of the roof and we explain which we will use. We’ll say if your roof does not suit either method before any testing starts. If you’re worried about holes around roof penetrations and waterproofing to test before it’s covered, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Englefield, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
If any part of the flat roof membrane couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Englefield (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Why get it checked now?
Opening up a roof to hunt for a leak is disruptive. ELD aims to locate the breach first, so the repair can be targeted. Older and listed buildings around Englefield may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
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.
Why us?
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in Englefield and across West Berkshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Have roof specifications to hand
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
If we think the leak isn’t coming through the membrane, the report says so, so other causes can be checked.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when they work up there. Have the roof looked at after other work.
What we look for on each type of roof
Bituminous membranes
ELD is often possible on bituminous membranes, depending on what’s below.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Pinholes in a coating can let water through. Where the roof suits it, testing can find them.
How it works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes a length of time set by the membrane area and the build-up, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Older roofs in small places like Englefield can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You tell us about the roof and where water is showing.
- 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 photos shows where each breach is.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Common questions in Englefield
Is Englefield in the area you cover?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Englefield is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property.
Will you come out to Englefield?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Is my roof suitable for ELD?
That depends on the roof’s membrane and layers. Share any details you have and we’ll check whether ELD will work.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you as you book.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Electronic leak detection in Englefield: local notes
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. With Mapledurham House about 3.8 miles north-east, Englefield sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mark: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. Landlords with a home close to Theale station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. If you look after a building such as Englefield C.E. Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Englefield is about 5 miles west of Reading, in West Berkshire. Wherever you are in Englefield, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire, large and small.
All of RG7 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Theale (1 mile south-east), Tidmarsh (2 miles north), Sulham (2 miles north-east), Sheffield Bottom (2 miles south-east) and Little Heath (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Newbury (10 miles west), Thatcham (7 miles south-west), Burghfield Common (4 miles south-east), Speenhamland (10 miles west), Spencers Wood (7 miles south-east) and Shaw (10 miles west).
Near you in Englefield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Thatchers Arms, Theale Green Community School and Theale Green Community School, among other places. Englefield’s nearest station is Theale station, roughly 1.3 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Yattendon Castle (5 miles west) and Thames Valley Police Museum (2 miles south-east). The countryside around Englefield includes Hosehill Lake and Moor Copse Nature Reserve.