Essex · London and the South East
Harwich Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Harwich, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Failed seams and laps
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
What we do, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. A visit in Harwich runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. If you won’t be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Keep pets in another room
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before you book.
Advice
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Harwich
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. We test and report 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. If you’re worried about holes left by work on the roof and leaks that return after repairs, we can find out what’s behind it.
Garages and porches on estates in towns like Harwich 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. Felt, rubber and fibreglass coverings each need a different approach. We do not test for asbestos, but our reports may flag materials that could contain it.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Harwich (CO12)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Liquid-applied waterproofing
What lies under a liquid coating decides if ELD will work.
Inverted and paved roofs
We’ll tell you if your inverted or paved roof is not suitable.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
What affects the price in Harwich
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Roof area
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us a few details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Common questions in Harwich
How do I find out if my home in Harwich is listed?
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 look at commercial flat roofs near Harwich, such as hotels?
Yes. As well as homes, we look at flat roofs on offices, hotels, blocks of flats and commercial units. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for the building.
How is ELD priced?
Each roof is quoted on its size and build-up. Send us details of the roof. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form for a quote.
How long will testing take?
It depends on the size of the roof and its build-up. You will know roughly how long before we start.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Electronic leak detection in Harwich: local notes
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Harwich, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Harwich has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use.
If you look after a building like Harwich and Dovercourt High School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. The streets around a church such as Church of All Saints are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Harwich is in Essex. In Harwich, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Essex. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CO12 is covered for electronic leak detection. Local streets include Station Road, High Street and Market Street, and we cover them all. Main roads around Harwich include the A120 and B1352, so getting to you is simple. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Parkeston (1 mile north-west), Little Oakley (2 miles south-west) and Ramsey (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Clacton-on-Sea (10 miles south-west), Greenstead (14 miles west), Wivenhoe (14 miles west), Brightlingsea (13 miles south-west), Walton-on-the-Naze (6 miles south) and Bocking's Elm (11 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Harwich
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and The Trafalgar Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Harwich is Dovercourt station, about 0.9 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Landguard Fort (2.5 miles east) and Harwich Museum (1.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Copperas Wood.
Useful tips for Harwich property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
- Keep a note of leaks after rain
- Check new waterproofing before handover
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
Wet insulation may need attention after a leak. That is something to discuss with your roofer, and moisture readings can help.
Make sure contractors protect the waterproofing when they work up there. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
Towns and villages near Harwich
What else we do in Harwich
Common roof problems in Harwich
Repeated leaks after repairs suggest the real breach hasn’t been found. ELD can locate the breach more precisely.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks showing away from the breach
If you own a rental within reach of Dovercourt station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price