Essex · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Harlow
We carry out electronic leak detection in Harlow and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- New membranes needing a check before handover
When you need someone else
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Harlow
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
About our electronic leak detection in Harlow
Water can travel under a flat roof membrane before it shows inside. So the stain inside rarely sits under the hole. Electronic leak detection tests the membrane itself, to find where it has been breached. It’s testing only and leave the repair to your roofer. On a suitable roof, it takes the guesswork out of finding the hole. We then send you the results in a written report. We survey flat roof membranes, single-ply roofs and roof terraces and balconies, and common reasons people get in touch are waterproofing to test before it’s covered and damp inside with no sign on the roof.
Garages and porches on estates in towns like Harlow frequently have flat roofs. Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos, so a specialist asbestos surveyor should check before they’re disturbed. Each kind of covering, from felt to rubber and GRP, is checked in its own way. Asbestos testing isn’t part of what we do, though a report may flag materials that could contain it.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Harlow (CM17, CM20, CM18, CM19)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Green and ballasted roofs
Green roofs and ballasted roofs cover the waterproofing. Some methods can work through these layers but it depends on the layers.
Inverted and paved roofs
On inverted roofs, insulation sits above the membrane, which affects testing.
Flat and commercial roofs around Harlow
Harlow is one of the 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. Flat-roofed garages, porches and extensions from that era may have been re-covered more than once, or not at all. Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos, so a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them before they’re disturbed. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Anyone responsible for a site like Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery will know that schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. The streets around a church like St Andrew's Methodist Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Harlow is about 21 miles north-east of London, in Essex. Harlow is one of many places we visit across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Essex. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CM17, CM20, CM18 and CM19 postcode area for electronic leak detection. That includes homes and businesses on London Road, Soper Square and Square Street and the roads around them. Being close to the A414 and A1019, Harlow is simple for us to get to for electronic leak detection. Other places close to Harlow include Mark Hall South (1 mile north-east), Netteswell (1 mile west), Latton (1 mile south-east), Mark Hall North (1 mile north) and Bush Fair (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south), Waltham Abbey (7 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (5 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (10 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Essex, Harlow has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Local landmarks in Harlow
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Harlow Marsh, Purple Emperor pub and BMAT STEM Academy, among other places. Harlow’s nearest station is Harlow Town station, roughly 1.2 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Princess Alexandra Hospital (1.2 miles west) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (0.7 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Hunsdon Mead.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Limit access to the roof
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Note where leaks show inside and when
Wet insulation may need attention after a leak. That’s something to discuss with your roofer, and moisture readings can help.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It is easier to find holes before more layers are added.
What we do, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes a length of time set by the roof’s area and construction, which we’ll explain when we quote. Most visits in a town like Harlow start at the front of the house and work round to the back. The back garden is often where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen, so unlocked gates help. The loft comes next, where there’s safe access.
- We start by finding out what the roof is made of and where it leaks.
- The roof is assessed to see if electronic testing will work on it.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- We send a report with photos of each breach so your roofer can repair it.
Before the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
What else we do in Harlow
Surveys for landlords and agents in Harlow
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Common questions in Harlow
My home in Harlow has a flat-roofed garage or porch. Is it worth having that looked at?
Frequently, yes, so mention it when you book. Flat-roofed garages and porches are common in new towns like Harlow, and older felt coverings may be near the end of their life.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Harlow?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you work in Harlow?
Yes. We cover Harlow and the rest of Essex. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Does electronic leak detection work on all membranes?
Not every roof is suitable. Certain membranes are conductive and some roofs lack the layer the test needs. We’ll tell you if yours isn’t suitable at the start.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Do you use low-voltage or high-voltage testing?
The method is chosen to suit the roof. Low-voltage methods are normally carried out on a wet roof, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane.
What we are asked to look at in Harlow
When the membrane is buried, holes can’t be seen at all. ELD can work on some covered roofs though it depends on the layers.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- A flat roof leak that cannot be traced
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Gaps at membrane joints
If you own a rental within reach of Harlow Town station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey