East Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Holywell, East Sussex
Know where you stand with the flat roof membrane before you decide what to do next. Electronic leak detection in Holywell, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaks left running can wet the insulation and deck. Finding the breach sooner limits that. Arranging work in a smaller place like Holywell is easier with notice than in an emergency. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Holywell
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- An independent view of the roof
- Surveys on any day of the week
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
About our electronic leak detection in Holywell
ELD is a way of pinpointing breaches in a flat roof’s waterproofing membrane. It works with an electrical current which can only get through the membrane at a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see, so your roofer can repair them. The results come in a report with photos. We survey green roofs, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are waterproofing to test before it’s covered and patched roofs that still leak.
Outbuildings, garden rooms and garages in places like Holywell often have flat roofs of their own. They’re rarely looked at until something gets wet. It is worth mentioning them when booking, so the visit can include them. Smaller roofs use the same coverings as bigger ones, from felt to rubber and GRP, and age in the same way.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Where
- Holywell (BN20, BN21)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: 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. The visit usually takes a time that depends on the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we’ll explain when we quote. Homes around Holywell frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Before the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Questions from Holywell
Is the coastal weather around Holywell hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Is my home in Holywell listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How much time does ELD need?
It normally takes as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we set out in the quote.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Keep outlets clear of debris
- Test new membranes before covering them
- Find the breach before more patching
Once repairs are made, the roof can be tested again if you want to check them if the build-up allows.
Don’t leave a flat roof leak running. Water under a membrane can spread.
What we look for on each type of roof
Bituminous membranes
Bitumen roofs can frequently be tested electronically, depending on what’s below.
EPDM rubber roofs
Whether an EPDM roof can be tested depends on the membrane and build-up. We check this first.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Holywell
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Flat roofs in Holywell
Holywell is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
Anyone responsible for a site like St John's Meads Church of England Primary School will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. For hotels and guest houses around Holywell, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition. Take an older house close to St John the Evangelist: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Holywell is about 2 miles south of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Anywhere in Holywell, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across East Sussex, we cover Holywell and the places around it. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Every address in BN20 and BN21 is within our area for electronic leak detection. Local streets include Mount Road, Cliff Road and Denton Road. We also cover the places around Holywell: Meads (1 mile north-west), Old Town (1 mile north), Upperton (1 mile north), Eastbourne (2 miles north) and Ratton Village (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (14 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Holywell
We work in homes and buildings around Gildredge House, Roedean Moira House and Gildrege Park. For rail, the closest station is Eastbourne station, about 1.2 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.3 miles north) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (0.8 miles north-east). Not far away are Combe Hill.
What we can’t see
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Fixing the holes we find
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Flat roof membranes
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs