Greater London · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Holborn
Electronic leak detection in Holborn, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
- Gaps at membrane joints
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. From the street, a London terrace typically shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Holborn moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, tell us who can let us into the shared parts.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- 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.
- We test the membrane and find where current is passing through it.
- We send a report with photos of each breach so your roofer can repair it.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Keep pets in another room
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
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Electronic leak detection in Holborn
ELD finds breaches in the membrane but not every way water gets in. Water coming through walls, copings, rooflights or plumbing won’t show on the test. If the evidence points elsewhere, we will say so. It will not show water getting in through brickwork or around frames. The report makes clear what was and wasn’t tested. We’ll point you to the likely next step. We survey single-ply roofs, green roofs and flat roof membranes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are patched roofs that still leak and new membranes needing a check before handover.
Commercial and residential blocks across London frequently have big flat roofs with plant, rooflights and access walkways. Each pipe, upstand and fixing through the covering is a possible weak point. In Holborn, roof access is agreed with the building manager or owner beforehand. Plant bases, rooflights and cable entries are all places where water can get in.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- Holborn (WC1X, WC1N, EC1R)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Holborn
Repeated leaks after repairs suggest the real breach hasn’t been found. ELD can locate the breach more precisely.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Failed seams and laps
For businesses in and around places such as Brunswick Centre, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after.
Questions to ask before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Their track record with similar roofs
Electronic leak detection in Holborn: local notes
Holborn has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half, and hotels, like offices and blocks of flats, often have flat roofs. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
For hotels and guest houses around Holborn, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest. If you own a rental within reach of Farringdon station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Holborn is about 2 miles north-west of London, in Greater London. Anywhere in Holborn, we can carry out electronic leak detection at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Every address in WC1X, WC1N and EC1R is covered for electronic leak detection. You will find streets such as Shoe Lane, Drury Lane and New Square, all of which we cover. You will find Holborn on the A4 and A40, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to Holborn include Farringdon (1 mile east), St Pancras (1 mile north-west), Clare Market (1 mile south), Smithfield (1 mile east) and Temple Bar (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (13 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (4 miles south).
What’s near Holborn
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Yorkshire Grey pub, British Library of Political and Economic Science and City Academy and the streets around them. Also close by are Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School (0.9 miles north) and Lincoln's Inn Fields (less than half a mile south-west). There is a railway station in Holborn itself: Farringdon station. A little further out are Montfichet's Tower (0.7 miles south-east) and Brunswick Centre (0.5 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Barnsbury Wood and Ludgate Hill.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Testing a new membrane before it’s covered is easier than tracing a leak later. Once layers are added, finding a breach is harder. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so a slipped slate can soon mean water inside. Left alone, that means wet timbers and plaster, which is a far bigger job than the roof fault itself.
All our prices include VAT. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Holborn
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Every finding written up with photos
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
FAQs for Holborn
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Holborn?
Sometimes, yes. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well, and a driveway is even better.
Do you cover commercial flat roofs around Holborn?
Yes, we cover commercial roofs as well as homes. Access to the roof is sorted out with whoever manages the building before the day.
What happens after the survey?
The report comes 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.
Will you repair the leak?
No, the test finds the breaches and your roofer repairs them. The report gives your roofer the locations.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you as you book.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Holborn
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Nearby places to Holborn
Also in Holborn
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Check new waterproofing before handover
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
Where the evidence points to walls, copings or rooflights, we will note it, so other causes can be checked.
Keep outlets and gutters on flat roofs clear. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up is not suitable
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
- Sections we cannot safely access
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs