Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Falmer Electronic Leak Detection
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof membrane before you spend money on it. We carry out electronic leak detection in Falmer.
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
How electronic leak detection works in Falmer
ELD finds breaches in the membrane, not every cause of water getting in. Leaks from walls, copings, rooflights or pipes need other checks. If the evidence points elsewhere, we’ll say so. It will not show water getting in through brickwork or around frames. The report makes clear what was and wasn’t tested. We will point you to the likely next step. We survey commercial flat roofs, flat roof membranes and green roofs, and the problems we are asked to look at most are punctures from foot traffic or tools and gaps at membrane joints.
Somewhere as small as Falmer, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
The report records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Falmer (BN1)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Falmer
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Falmer?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Falmer is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Is my home in Falmer listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
How long does electronic leak detection take?
It normally takes a time that depends on the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we set out in the quote.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
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.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Falmer
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Flat roofs in Falmer
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Falmer, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. The wider area around Falmer has a long history of building, with Preston Manor & Gardens about 3.5 miles south-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Lawrence are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. Anyone responsible for a site like Brighton Aldridge Community Academy will know that schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Falmer is about 3 miles north-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. If you’re in Falmer, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Falmer is one of the towns and villages in Brighton and Hove where we work.
Postcode districts we cover here for electronic leak detection: BN1. Whether your property is on Middle Street, Park Street and Mill Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Kingston near Lewes (2 miles east), Iford (3 miles east), Ovingdean (3 miles south), Rottingdean (3 miles south) and Roedean (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Brighton (3 miles south-west), Brighton and Hove (5 miles west), Hove (5 miles south-west), Carlton Hill (4 miles south-west), Hanover (3 miles south-west) and West Hill (4 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Falmer
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Swan Inn, University of Sussex Library and Stanmer Park, among other places. There’s a railway station in Falmer itself: Falmer station. A little further out are Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (under half a mile south-west) and Lewes Castle (3.8 miles east). Not far away are Bevendean Down and Newmarket Hill.
What we are asked to look at in Falmer
Roofs covered with paving, ballast or planting hide the membrane. ELD can work on some covered roofs, depending on the build-up.
Common reasons to book include:
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Damage from equipment installers
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- New membranes needing a check before handover
Landlords with a home close to Falmer station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Which limits apply to the survey
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes a time that depends on the roof’s area and construction, which we set out in the quote. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older roofs in small places like Falmer can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- We test the roof and locate any breaches.
- A report with photos shows where each breach is.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Booking a survey
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Related advice
What you can safely check yourself
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.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
What affects the price in Falmer
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- How big the roof is
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Building height and the viewpoints available
All our prices include VAT. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Anything about access we should know
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Repeated call-outs for the same leak add up. A clear record of where the breaches are helps break that cycle. Around Falmer, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
For a price for your roof in Falmer, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book with us
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- An independent view of the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.