Surrey · London and the South East
Merle Common Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes around Merle Common, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
What electronic leak detection looks like in Merle Common
Historic houses such as Chartwell, about 3.3 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Merle Common goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
Take a building like Holland Junior School: a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. Merle Common is one of many places we visit across Surrey, for homes and businesses alike. Merle Common is one of the places in Surrey we cover for electronic leak detection. There’s also a page for Crawley.
Here we cover the RH8 postcode area for electronic leak detection. We also cover Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Merle Common
In Merle Common, that means homes and buildings near Oxted School, among other places. Merle Common’s nearest station is Hurst Green station, about 1.4 miles north. A little further out are Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
Electronic leak detection in Merle Common
ELD finds breaches in the membrane, not every cause of water getting in. Water coming through walls, copings, rooflights or plumbing will not show on the test. We will tell you if we think the leak is coming from somewhere else. It will not show water getting in through brickwork or around frames. The report makes clear what was and wasn’t tested. You will also know what to check next. If you’re worried about patched roofs that still leak and leaking laps in the waterproofing, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on single-ply roofs, flat roof membranes and roof terraces and balconies alike.
Somewhere as small as Merle Common, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. The checks are the same as anywhere: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. We simply plan the journey and access ahead of time. If there are outbuildings or garages with flat roofs, mention them when you book.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Where
- Merle Common (RH8)
- Region
- Surrey
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Repairing the breaches (that is for your roofer)
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
Questions from Merle Common
Do you cover smaller places like Merle Common?
Yes, Merle Common is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Merle Common?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is the repair part of the test?
No, our part is finding the breaches. The report gives your roofer the locations.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How long will testing take?
Testing normally takes more time on a big roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too.
Can every flat roof be tested?
ELD does not suit every roof. Certain membranes are conductive and some roofs lack the layer the test needs. If your roof won’t work, we will say so before testing.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It normally takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Somewhere like Merle Common needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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 photos in a report for your roofer.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Book a survey
To get a price for electronic leak detection in Merle Common, phone 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
Green and ballasted roofs
Green roofs and ballasted roofs cover the waterproofing. Some methods can work through these layers but it depends on the layers.
Bituminous membranes
Bitumen roofs can often be tested electronically, depending on what’s below.
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Merle Common
Water travels under flat roof membranes. The leak may show some distance from where water gets in which makes it hard to find by looking.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- A flat roof leak that can’t be traced
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
Landlords with a home close to Hurst Green station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Questions to ask before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What exactly goes into their report
What happens if roof problems are left?
Not every leak is in the membrane. ELD helps rule the membrane in or out, so other causes can be checked. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Merle Common, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- 20+ years’ experience
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.