Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Hethe Electronic Leak Detection
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof membrane before you decide what to do next. Electronic leak detection in Hethe.
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
Electronic leak detection in Hethe: what you get
Some flat roofs can’t be tested electronically. Certain membranes conduct electricity, and some build-ups lack the layer the test needs below the membrane. We will say if ELD will not work on your roof before any testing. Telling us what you know about the roof’s membrane and layers helps, such as drawings or specifications. It avoids arranging a test that can’t give results. Typical surveys look at stains far from any visible defect and leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause, on liquid-applied waterproofing, green roofs and flat roof membranes.
Older buildings in small places like Hethe may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the flat roof membrane, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Hethe (OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Do not keep patching the same spot
- Have roof specifications to hand
Questions about the results are welcome. We’ll explain what was found and what it means.
Act on leaks quickly. Water under a membrane can spread.
What affects the price in Hethe
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Height and safe access
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Questions from Hethe
Do you cover smaller places like Hethe?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you cover Hethe?
Yes, Hethe is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
What is electronic leak detection?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, but a hole lets it through. That lets us find breaches that are too small to see.
Places near Hethe
Also in Hethe
Roof by roof
Inverted and paved roofs
Paving and terraces cover the membrane. Whether it can be tested depends on the build-up.
Green and ballasted roofs
Testing before planting or ballast goes on is simpler.
What electronic leak detection looks like in Hethe
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. 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. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
Take an older house close to Church of St Edmund and George: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. Take a building like Fringford Church of England Primary School: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. If you let a flat or house near Bicester North station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Hethe is about 4 miles north of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. We cover Hethe and the rest of Oxfordshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Hethe. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Every address in OX27 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Main Street and Hardwick Road. Other places close to Hethe include Fringford (1 mile south-east), Hardwick (1 mile west), Stoke Lyne (2 miles south-west), Stratton Audley (2 miles south-east) and Caversfield (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Oxford (15 miles south), Banbury (11 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south), Kidlington (12 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (14 miles south) and Bure Park (4 miles south).
Near you in Hethe
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Whitmore Arms Public House, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Bicester North station, about 4 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (4.6 miles south) and Beaumont Castle (3 miles north).
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the flat roof membrane as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It normally takes as long as needed for the membrane area and the build-up, which we set out in the quote. In a hamlet or village like Hethe, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- We check that the membrane and build-up suit electronic leak detection.
- The testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
Getting ready for the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
We confirm the price for the job before booking, so you know the cost up front. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Hethe
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 around your tenants.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.