Essex · London and the South East
Fordstreet Electronic Leak Detection
Independent electronic leak detection in Fordstreet. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Patched roofs that still leak
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
- Stains far from any visible defect
How electronic leak detection works in Fordstreet
ELD suits many waterproofing membranes on flat roofs, on homes, blocks and commercial buildings. It can be used to trace an existing leak or to test a new membrane before it’s covered. We quote for each roof based on its size and build-up. We can test on weekdays and at weekends when conditions allow. Let us know about your roof to find out more. We survey liquid-applied waterproofing, flat roof membranes and commercial flat roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are breaches hidden under paving or planting and holes around roof penetrations.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Fordstreet take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, frequently around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. 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, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Fordstreet (CO6)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Fixing the holes we find
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
- How wet the insulation is
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Roof terraces and balconies
Why it’s worth a survey now in Fordstreet
Opening up a roof to hunt for a leak is disruptive. ELD aims to locate the breach first, so the repair can be targeted. For an older or listed building in a place like Fordstreet, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
What you get with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Fordstreet
What else we do in Fordstreet
How the survey changes by roof type
Bituminous membranes
ELD is often possible on bituminous membranes though the layers below matter.
Inverted and paved roofs
We will tell you if your inverted or paved roof isn’t suitable.
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Find the breach before more patching
- Let us know about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Check new waterproofing before handover
If anything in the report is not clear, ask us. We will explain what was found and what it means.
Clear flat roof outlets regularly. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Local flat roofs in Fordstreet
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
Take an older house close to Church of St Margaret and St Catherine: the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start. Anyone responsible for a site like Holy Trinity CofE Primary School will know that a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. For landlords with property near Chappel & Wakes Colne station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Fordstreet is about 5 miles west of Colchester, in Essex. We carry out electronic leak detection in Fordstreet for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
All of CO6 is covered for electronic leak detection. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on Ford Street, Fordstreet Hill and Ponders Road and the roads around them. Other places close to Fordstreet include Rose Green (1 mile north-west), Chappel (2 miles north-west), Swan Street (2 miles west), Wakes Colne (2 miles north-west) and Great Tey (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (5 miles east), Braintree (10 miles west), Maldon (13 miles south), Witham (10 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
Landmarks near Fordstreet
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Queen's Head Public House. Fordstreet’s nearest station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, about 1.8 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Essex County Hospital (4.4 miles east) and Mount Bures (3.6 miles north). Not far away are Iron Latch.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes as long as needed for the roof’s area and construction, which we’ll explain when we quote. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Fordstreet often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
Preparing for the visit
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets in another room
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Your questions about electronic leak detection in Fordstreet
Is Fordstreet within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Is my home in Fordstreet listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. 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.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Usually, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What is electronic leak detection?
It uses an electrical current to find breaches in a flat roof membrane. A breach lets the current through, which shows us where the hole is.