Greater London · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Hackney, Greater London
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Hackney, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Leaks showing away from the breach
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks that return after repairs
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Hackney
ELD can be carried out in more than one way. Low-voltage methods typically need a wet roof surface and high-voltage methods need the membrane dry and exposed. The right method depends on the membrane and the build-up of the roof, and we’ll explain our choice. We will say if your roof doesn’t suit either method before any testing starts. If you are worried about stains far from any visible defect and breaches around outlets and penetrations, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
London has a lot of flat roofs: rear additions, dormers, roof terraces and the roofs of blocks and offices. They’re covered in felt, asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass or single-ply membranes, and each fails in its own way. Which one is on a roof in Hackney shapes how it’s checked. Older flat roofs are often felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof membrane on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Hackney (E9, E8, E3, E5)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat roofs in Hackney
About 0.3 miles north-west lies Sutton House, a reminder of how long the area around Hackney has been built on. 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. Within a mile and a half or so of Hackney there are several hotels. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use.
Hotels and guest houses near Hackney cannot easily close rooms for a leak. For businesses in and around places like Hackney Walk, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after. For landlords with property near Homerton station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Hackney is about 4 miles north-east of London, in Greater London. Roofs in Hackney get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Greater London. Hackney is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work for electronic leak detection.
We survey roofs across E9, E8, E3 and E5 for electronic leak detection. That includes homes and businesses on Homerton High Street, Primrose Square and St John's Church Road. Hackney is on the A107 and B113, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to Hackney include Homerton (1 mile north), Lower Clapton (1 mile north), Hackney Central (1 mile west), London Fields (1 mile south-west) and Cambridge Heath (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns like London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (5 miles south-west), Marylebone (5 miles south-west), Kensington (7 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles west) and Walthamstow (3 miles north).
Landmarks near Hackney
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Urswick School, Clapton Park and Chesham Arms. Hackney has its own railway station: Homerton station. Well-known places in the area include Hackney Walk (within half a mile north-west) and Cell Project Space (0.9 miles south-west). The countryside around Hackney includes Tower Hill and Old Ford Island.
Nearby places to Hackney
Also in Hackney
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- 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.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
How to book
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Green and ballasted roofs
Testing before planting or ballast goes on is simpler.
EPDM rubber roofs
EPDM is a long-lasting flat roof membrane, but punctures and seam failures still happen.
Tips that help
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask contractors to protect the membrane
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
- Don’t let outlets block
Once repairs are made, the roof can be tested again if you want to check them, where the roof still suits the method.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. Finding breaches is simpler at that stage.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Leaks left running can wet the insulation and deck. Locating it early helps limit the damage. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork, which can lead to damp inside. A blocked outlet ignored for a winter or two can mean damp walls inside.
For a price for your roof in Hackney, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book us in Hackney
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- An independent view of the roof
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hackney
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The size of the roof
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Every price we give includes VAT. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. You will know the price for the job before you book.
Helping us price your survey
We’ll typically ask about:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- When you need the report by
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Questions from Hackney
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hackney?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near Hackney, like hotels?
Yes, commercial flat roofs are part of what we cover. For a bigger roof, you will get a quote based on the building, and roof access is agreed with you before the visit.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.