Essex · London and the South East
Nine Ashes Electronic Leak Detection
Know where you stand with the flat roof membrane before you spend money on it. Electronic leak detection in Nine Ashes, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
About our electronic leak detection in Nine Ashes
Our ELD testing covers flat roofs in Nine Ashes and the rest of London and South East England. 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. You get a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are damage from equipment installers and leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings, across commercial flat roofs, single-ply roofs and green roofs.
In a small place like Nine Ashes, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, typically show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Nine Ashes (CM4)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026

What electronic leak detection does not cover
A survey is a close look at the flat roof membrane, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Carrying out the repair work
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Don’t keep patching the same spot
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Get leaks traced quickly
- Share any drawings of the roof
If water has been getting in, insulation under the membrane may be wet. That is something to discuss with your roofer and other checks can help judge it.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It’s easier to find holes before more layers are added.
Local flat roofs in Nine Ashes
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. The wider area around Nine Ashes has a long history of building, with Ingatestone Hall about 4.6 miles south-east. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to Church of St Laurence: later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear. Anyone responsible for a site like Blackmore Primary School will know that a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Nine Ashes is about 5 miles north of Brentwood, in Essex. If you are in Nine Ashes, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our Essex coverage includes Nine Ashes and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CM4 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on Rookery Road and Nine Ashes Road and the roads around them. If you are just outside Nine Ashes, we cover Norton Heath (1 mile north), Radley Green (2 miles north-east), Willingale (3 miles north), Loves Green (3 miles east) and Berners Roding (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (8 miles east), Basildon (11 miles south-east), Harlow (9 miles north-west), Brentwood (5 miles south), Billericay (7 miles south-east) and Rayleigh (15 miles south-east).
Near you in Nine Ashes
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bull Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Ingatestone station, about 4.1 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Brentwood Community Hospital (5.4 miles south) and Willingale Doe (3.4 miles north).
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we’ll explain when we quote. Somewhere like Nine Ashes needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- First, you tell us about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- 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.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
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What we’re asked to look at in Nine Ashes
Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Many are tiny but water still finds them.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks showing away from the breach
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
If you own a rental within reach of Ingatestone station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Common questions in Nine Ashes
Do you carry out roof surveys in Nine Ashes?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Nine Ashes is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
Will you come out to Nine Ashes?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
It can be possible, depending on the roof. Covered roofs limit the methods we can use, so we check the build-up first.
What does electronic leak detection do?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there is a hole, it passes through. That lets us find breaches that are too small to see.
How much does electronic leak detection cost?
We quote for each roof individually. Let us know about the roof and where it leaks. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email for a quote.
Can every flat roof be tested?
Not every roof is suitable. Certain membranes are conductive and some roofs lack the layer the test needs. We will tell you if yours is not suitable before testing.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
Roof by roof
EPDM rubber roofs
Whether an EPDM roof can be tested depends on the membrane and build-up. We look at this first.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes are common on commercial and newer roofs. Laps and fixings are where holes frequently appear.