Essex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Frating, Essex
We take a careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Frating, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the flat roof membrane as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit normally takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Older rural homes like those around Frating can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. 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.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Electronic leak detection in Frating
Electronic testing locates holes in the waterproofing but not every way water gets in. Leaks from walls, copings, rooflights or pipes need other checks. We’ll tell you if we think the leak is coming from somewhere else. The test shows breaches in the membrane, not water coming through masonry or around frames. The report makes clear what was and wasn’t tested. You’ll also know what to check next. We are often asked to look into leaking laps in the waterproofing and leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings, across green roofs, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes.
In a village or hamlet like Frating, flat roofs are typically on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. We simply plan the journey and access ahead of time. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Frating (CO7)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Frating
When the membrane is buried, holes cannot be seen at all. ELD can work on some covered roofs, depending on the build-up.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Holes around roof penetrations
Landlords with a home close to Alresford station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Surveys for landlords and agents in Frating
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Limit access to the roof
- Share any drawings of the roof
- Do not keep patching the same spot
The report records each breach location with photos. Pass it to your roofer to repair the breach points.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. Finding breaches is simpler at that stage.
More services for Frating
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Frating questions
Is Frating within the area you cover?
Yes, Frating is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Frating is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is the repair part of the test?
No, the test finds the breaches and your roofer repairs them. Your roofer uses the report to target the repair.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access as you book.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Different roofs, different checks
Single-ply membranes
ELD often works on single-ply membranes, depending on the type and build-up.
EPDM rubber roofs
Some EPDM membranes conduct electricity which can limit electronic testing. We will say if the test won’t work.
Electronic leak detection in Frating: local notes
Frating lies within about 3 miles of the sea, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
If you live in an older home near Saint Andrew's Church, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Frating is about 3 miles east of Wivenhoe, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Frating, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Frating is one of the places in Essex we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
We cover every part of CO7 for electronic leak detection and the streets around it. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on Church Road and Rectory Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Frating: Frating Green (1 mile north-east), Balls Green (1 mile north-east), Thorrington (1 mile south-east), Hare Green (2 miles north-east) and Great Bentley (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (6 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (7 miles south-east), Harwich (11 miles north-east), Camulodunum (7 miles west), Greenstead (4 miles north-west) and Tiptree (12 miles west).
Around Frating
Around Frating, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Kings Arms and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Alresford station, roughly 1.2 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (2.4 miles west) and Essex County Hospital (6 miles west). Open spaces near Frating include Cockaynes Wood.