Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Gravesend, Hertfordshire
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes across Gravesend, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Gaps at membrane joints
- A flat roof leak that can’t be traced
How electronic leak detection works in Gravesend
Water can travel under a flat roof membrane before it shows inside. So the stain inside rarely sits under the hole. ELD tests the waterproofing directly and locates the breach. We test and report, and the repair is for your roofer. On a suitable roof, it takes the guesswork out of finding the hole. The results then follow in a written report with photos. We survey flat roof membranes, commercial flat roofs and roof terraces and balconies, and common reasons people get in touch are leaks through a covered membrane and patched roofs that still leak.
Older buildings in small places like Gravesend may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the flat roof membrane, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Gravesend (SG11)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Electronic leak detection in Gravesend: local notes
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. Much Hadham Palace, about 3.6 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Gravesend. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Bishops Stortford station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Anyone responsible for a site like Albury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Gravesend is about 4 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. In Gravesend, as across Hertfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Gravesend. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Here we cover the SG11 postcode area for electronic leak detection. We also cover the places around Gravesend: Albury (1 mile west), Clapgate (1 mile south-east), Furneux Pelham (2 miles north), Braughing (3 miles west) and Hay Street (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (4 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles south-west), Hoddesdon (12 miles south-west), Cheshunt (15 miles south-west) and Hertford (11 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Gravesend
In Gravesend, that means homes and buildings near The Catherine Wheel pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Gravesend is Bishops Stortford station, about 4.2 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Herts and Essex Hospital (4.6 miles south-east) and Bishops Stortford Local History Museum (3.1 miles south-east).
What affects the cost of electronic leak detection
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How big the roof is
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Cottages and farmhouses around Gravesend often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
How to book
For a price for electronic leak detection in Gravesend, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Common questions in Gravesend
Is Gravesend within the area you cover?
Yes. Gravesend is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Gravesend?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
In some cases. It depends on the build-up and the layers above the membrane and parts may need to be lifted. We talk this through first.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when you book.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Other services in Gravesend
Roof by roof
Bituminous membranes
Bituminous felt and modified bitumen membranes are common. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid-applied coatings form a seamless layer, but can still have thin spots or holes. Whether ELD works depends on the coating and build-up.
What we cannot see
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Fixing the holes we find
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- Areas we can’t reach or that cannot be tested
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Single-ply roofs