West Berkshire · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Hermitage
Not sure what state the flat roof membrane is in? You can book electronic leak detection in Hermitage and across West Berkshire, with plain-English findings.
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Failed seams and laps
- Water coming in under a flat roof
Electronic leak detection in Hermitage
Some flat roofs cannot be tested electronically. Certain membranes conduct electricity and some roofs do not have a suitable layer beneath the membrane. We’ll say if ELD won’t work on your roof at the start. Telling us what you know about the roof’s membrane and layers helps, such as drawings or specifications. It avoids arranging a test that cannot give results. Typical surveys look at holes left by work on the roof and leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause, on green roofs, roof terraces and balconies and flat roof membranes.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Hermitage take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Hermitage (RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Electronic leak detection in Hermitage: local notes
With Shaw House about 3.4 miles south-west, Hermitage sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Next to the main roofs there’s typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you let a flat or house near Newbury Racecourse station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. For an older house near a landmark such as Holy Trinity, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. Anyone responsible for a site like Hermitage Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Hermitage is about 4 miles north of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. Wherever you are in Hermitage, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Hermitage is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire where we work. There’s also a page for Reading.
Here we cover the RG18 postcode area for electronic leak detection. You’ll find streets such as Newbury Road, Lipscomb Close and Marlston Road, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Longlane (1 mile south-west), Little Hungerford (1 mile north-east), Oare (1 mile north), Wellhouse (1 mile east) and Curridge (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (4 miles south-west), Thatcham (4 miles south), Burghfield Common (10 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles south-west), Hungerford (11 miles west) and Spencers Wood (14 miles east).
Landmarks near Hermitage
Typical jobs here are in homes near The White Horse pub, among other places. The closest station to Hermitage is Newbury Racecourse station, about 4 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Hampstead Norris Castle (2.4 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.3 miles south). Not far away are Snelsmore Common.
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
- Some conductive membranes
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
How it 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 roof’s area and construction, which we set out in the quote. For a village or hamlet like Hermitage, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You tell us about the roof and where water is showing.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
Some flat roof leaks come from walls or details. ELD helps rule the membrane in or out so attention can go to the right place. Older and listed buildings around Hermitage may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Why book us in Hermitage
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 20+ years’ experience
- Plain-English reports with photos
- An independent view of the roof
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Other services in Hermitage
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
For landlords and managing agents
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
FAQs for Hermitage
Do you carry out roof surveys in Hermitage?
Yes, Hermitage is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Will you come out to Hermitage?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How is ELD priced?
Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. Size, build-up and access all affect the price. To get a quote, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
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, ready to forward.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.
Roof by roof
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Small holes in liquid waterproofing may leak. Where the roof suits it, testing can find them.
EPDM rubber roofs
EPDM rubber roofs often last 30–50 years, but punctures and seam failures still happen.