Essex · London and the South East
Gilston Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Gilston, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Water coming in under a flat roof
Electronic leak detection around Gilston
Harlow, which Gilston is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Many of those flat roofs have been re-covered over the years, and some may still have older felt. Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos, so a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them before they’re disturbed. Historic houses like Much Hadham Palace, about 4.8 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Gilston goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Harlow Town station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. If you live in an older home near Parish Church of St Mary, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear. Take a building like St Alban's Catholic Academy: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Gilston is about 2 miles north-west of Harlow, in Essex. We survey roofs in Gilston and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in CM20 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Pye Corner and Eastwick Road and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Eastwick (1 mile south-west), Little Parndon (1 mile south-west), Great Parndon (2 miles south), Staple Tye (3 miles south) and Roydon (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Brentwood (14 miles south-east), Loughton (10 miles south), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (6 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north-east).
What’s near Gilston
In Gilston, that means homes and buildings near The Plume Of Feathers pub, Burnt Mill Academy and Harlow Marsh. The nearest railway station is Harlow Town station, roughly 0.6 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.3 miles south-east) and Harlow Mill (1.2 miles east). The countryside around Gilston includes Hunsdon Mead.
How electronic leak detection works in Gilston
Not every flat roof suits electronic testing. Some membranes conduct electricity themselves and some roofs don’t have a suitable layer beneath the membrane. We will say if ELD will not work on your roof at the start. Any details you have about the membrane and build-up help us decide, including drawings, specifications or the roofer’s paperwork. It saves a wasted visit. We survey roof terraces and balconies, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes, and people most often book us about failed seams and laps and new roofs to check before paving or planting.
Somewhere as small as Gilston, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Location
- Gilston (CM20)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Gilston
Will you come out to Gilston?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Gilston?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Will you repair the leak?
No, the test finds the breaches and your roofer repairs them. The report gives your roofer the locations.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Moisture spread under the membrane
- Carrying out the repair work
- Some conductive membranes
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
What we look for on each type of roof
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Testing a liquid-applied roof depends on what’s beneath the coating.
Single-ply membranes
ELD frequently works on single-ply membranes, depending on the type and build-up.
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Have roof specifications to hand
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Find the breach before more patching
- Use boards when working on the roof
Wet insulation may need attention after a leak. Your roofer can advise on that and other checks can help judge it.
Act on leaks quickly. Water under a membrane can spread.
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Cottages and farmhouses around Gilston often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First, you let us know about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- 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 photos in a report for your roofer.
Before the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Nearby places to Gilston
What else we do in Gilston
What affects the price in Gilston
We confirm the exact price before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The roof’s overall size
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
What we need to know
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- What’s prompted the survey
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.