Roof surveys across London and the South East 07833 053749info@independentroofsurvey.co.uk

Essex · London and the South East

Electronic Leak Detection in Great Bromley

Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Great Bromley, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.

  • Water coming in under a flat roof
  • Holes around roof penetrations
  • Waterproofing to test before it is covered

Need electronic leak detection in Great Bromley?

How electronic leak detection works in Great Bromley

Our ELD report shows where each breach was found, with photographs. Your roofer can then repair those points instead of hunting for the leak. We don’t estimate repair costs; that is for your roofer to price. Testing again after repairs can confirm the breaches have been dealt with, where the roof still suits the method. You get a written report with photos. We are frequently asked to look into new membranes needing a check before handover and leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause, across single-ply roofs, liquid-applied waterproofing and commercial flat roofs.

In a small place like Great Bromley, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, normally 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.

Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the flat roof membrane, any defects and our written recommendations.

Place
Great Bromley (CO7)
Region
Essex
Price
Quoted for your roof
Your report
Emailed report with photos and recommendations
Appointments
Weekdays and weekends
Cover
PI and public liability insurance
Telephone
07833 053749
Page updated
27 October 2026
Illustration of electronic leak detection showing a breach on a flat roof membrane

The survey, step by step

On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey usually takes as long as needed for the membrane area and the build-up, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. Older rural homes like those around Great Bromley 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.

  1. We agree the area to be tested.
  2. The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
  3. We work across the roof with the test equipment.
  4. We mark the breach locations in our records.
  5. The report is sent for your roofer to act on.

Before we arrive

  • Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
  • For flats, check roof access has been agreed
  • Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of

How to book

Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.

Book your survey

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For landlords and managing agents

If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.

We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof membrane, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.

Practical tips

Getting the most from electronic leak detection starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:

  • Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
  • Keep outlets clear of debris
  • Get leaks traced quickly
  • Keep a note of leaks after rain

Questions about the results are welcome. We can talk you through the findings.

Check contractors protect the waterproofing when they work up there. Check the roof after they’ve finished.

Common roof problems in Great Bromley

Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Some are too small to see but water still finds them.

A survey can pick up problems such as:

  • Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
  • New roofs to check before paving or planting
  • Failed seams and laps
  • Damp inside with no sign on the roof

Castle House, about 4 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Bromley. Older homes nearby may have later flat-roofed extensions or dormers, often re-covered more than once.

Choosing a roof surveyor

  • Are they insured for the work?
  • Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
  • What experience they bring
  • What they won’t be able to tell you

What a roof survey includes

What you can safely check yourself

After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.

Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.

Why get it checked now?

Not every leak is in the membrane. ELD helps rule the membrane in or out so attention can go to the right place. For older village homes like those around Great Bromley, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.

Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.

Why book with us

  • Over 5,000 surveys carried out
  • An independent view of the roof
  • Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
  • Weekday and weekend surveys

Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.

Local flat roofs in Great Bromley

Great Bromley lies within about 5 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. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.

If you let a flat or house near Alresford station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. If you look after a building like St George's Church of England Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.

Great Bromley is about 6 miles east of Colchester, in Essex. Great Bromley gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across Essex. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.

We work across CO7 for electronic leak detection and the streets around it. You will find streets such as Badley Hall Road, Brook Street and Hall Road, and we cover them all. We also cover Cowey Green (1 mile south-east), Hare Green (1 mile south-east), Balls Green (1 mile south), Monkey Street (2 miles east) and Frating Green (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Colchester (6 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (8 miles south-east), Harwich (10 miles east), Camulodunum (7 miles west), Greenstead (4 miles west) and Tiptree (13 miles south-west).

Around Great Bromley

Around Great Bromley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Ardleigh Park. The nearest railway station is Alresford station, roughly 3.2 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Colchester Hospital (5.6 miles west) and Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (3.6 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Cockaynes Wood.

Map of Great Bromley © OpenStreetMap contributors

Great Bromley: your questions answered

Is my home in Great Bromley 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.

Does being near the coast affect roofs in Great Bromley?

Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.

Will you check the loft?

If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.

How do you choose the testing method?

The method is chosen to suit the roof. Low-voltage testing typically needs a wet surface, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane.

How quickly is the report sent?

The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email.

Does this replace a RICS home survey?

No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.

Does someone need to be in?

If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We’ll talk about access as you book.

20+ yearsRoof survey experience
5,000+ surveys98% customer satisfaction
Drones and thermal imagingCAA-registered drone operator
Fully insuredProfessional indemnity and public liability
Reports from £150Prices include VAT