West Berkshire · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Great Lea Common
Not sure what state the flat roof membrane is in? We carry out electronic leak detection in Great Lea Common and across West Berkshire, with plain-English findings.
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Failed seams and laps
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes a length of time set by the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we set out in the quote. Somewhere like Great Lea Common needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- You tell us about the roof and where water is showing.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- The test method is chosen to suit the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- A report with photos shows where each breach is.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
About our electronic leak detection in Great Lea Common
Electronic testing locates holes in the waterproofing, not every cause of water getting in. Water coming through walls, copings, rooflights or plumbing won’t show on the test. If the evidence points elsewhere, we will say so. It will not show water getting in through brickwork or around frames. Our report keeps that distinction clear. We’ll point you to the likely next step. If you’ve noticed punctures from foot traffic or tools and patched roofs that still leak, we can find out what’s behind it, on single-ply roofs, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes alike.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Great Lea Common take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. 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. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Great Lea Common (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Roof area
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
- Keep a note of leaks after rain
- Use boards when working on the roof
Where the evidence points to walls, copings or rooflights, we will note it, with a suggestion of what to check next.
Check contractors protect the waterproofing when fitting equipment. Have the roof looked at after other work.
Towns and villages near Great Lea Common
Other services in Great Lea Common
Common roof problems in Great Lea Common
Work on the roof can damage a membrane. Fixings, equipment and foot traffic can leave small holes.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Holes left by work on the roof
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near The Oracle, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What experience they bring
- Their insurance cover
Surveys for landlords and agents in Great Lea Common
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Flat roofs in Great Lea Common
Stratfield Saye House, about 4.3 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Lea Common. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Next to the main roofs there is usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you live in an older home near St Paul's Church, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. If you own a rental within reach of Reading Green Park station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Great Lea Common is about 3 miles south of Reading, in West Berkshire. In Great Lea Common, as across West Berkshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire.
Here we cover the RG7 postcode area for electronic leak detection. Close by, we survey roofs in Three Mile Cross (1 mile south-east), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-east), Ryeish Green (1 mile south-east), Green Park (1 mile north-west) and Shinfield (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Newbury (15 miles west), Thatcham (12 miles west), Burghfield Common (4 miles west), Speenhamland (15 miles west), Calcot (4 miles north-west) and Shaw (14 miles west).
Around Great Lea Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near Geoffrey Field Junior School, Ryeish Green School and Pearman's Copse. The closest station to Great Lea Common is Reading Green Park station, about 1.5 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (3 miles north) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.9 miles north). Open spaces near Great Lea Common include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Longwater.
Your questions about electronic leak detection in Great Lea Common
How do I find out if my home in Great Lea Common is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover Great Lea Common?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Great Lea Common is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Will you check the loft?
Usually, if there is one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.