Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Holwell Electronic Leak Detection
We take a careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Holwell, with photos and a written report.
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Electronic leak detection in Holwell: what you get
Our ELD testing covers flat roofs in Holwell and the rest of London and the South East. A visit normally takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Every roof is quoted on its size and build-up. The results come in a written report with photos. If you’ve noticed leaks showing away from the breach and patched roofs that still leak, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Holwell, flat roofs are usually on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
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. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Holwell (SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Local flat roofs in Holwell
Older buildings may be listed or sit 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. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as The Priory School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. If you let a flat or house near Hitchin station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Holwell is about 3 miles north-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. We carry out electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Holwell. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. There’s also a page for Milton Keynes.
We survey roofs across SG5 for electronic leak detection. If you need electronic leak detection at a property on Gurney's Lane, Pirton Road and Rand's Meadow or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Pirton (2 miles south-west), Shillington (3 miles west), Apsley End (3 miles west), Hanscombe End (3 miles west) and Pegsdon (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Stevenage (7 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles south), Harpenden (12 miles south), Hitchin (3 miles south-east), Letchworth (3 miles east) and Letchworth Garden City (3 miles east).
Local landmarks in Holwell
For rail, the closest station is Hitchin station, roughly 2.8 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Wymondley Castle (4.3 miles south-east) and Fairfield Hospital (2.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Holwell include Markham's Hill and Oughtonhead Nature Reserve.
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a hamlet or village like Holwell, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- The testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- We test the membrane and find where current is passing through it.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Holwell
Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Some are too small to see but water still finds them.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Gaps at membrane joints
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter (C of E) at Corner with Holwell Road: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Common questions in Holwell
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Holwell?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you cover smaller places like Holwell?
Yes, Holwell is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
What is electronic leak detection?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there’s a hole, it passes through. That lets us find breaches that are too small to see.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Will you repair the leak?
No, our part is finding the breaches. The report gives your roofer the locations.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. 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.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
In some cases. It depends on the build-up and the layers above the membrane and parts may need to be lifted. We will discuss it before we quote.
Different roofs, different checks
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Small holes in liquid waterproofing may leak. ELD can help locate them on suitable roofs.
Inverted and paved roofs
Paving and terraces cover the membrane. Whether it can be tested depends on the build-up.
Places near Holwell
What else we do in Holwell
Prices for electronic leak detection in Holwell
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Roof area
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
For a price for your roof in Holwell, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It’s useful to include:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
- Make sure trades protect the waterproofing
- Don’t leave water getting in
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
File the report with your roof paperwork. It shows the condition of the membrane on that date.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It’s easier to find holes before more layers are added.