Kent · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Northbourne
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes across Northbourne, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
What electronic leak detection doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Sections we can’t safely access
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Commercial flat roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Northbourne
Green roofs, ballasted roofs and roofs under paving are harder to test. The layers on top can limit the methods we can use and parts may need to be lifted. We’ll discuss it with you when we quote. Drawings or details of the roof’s layers are useful, as they show what lies beneath the surface. If testing is not possible, we will say so. Common reasons to book are leaks under green or ballasted roofs and leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings, across liquid-applied waterproofing, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes.
Older buildings in small places like Northbourne may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Northbourne (CT14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes a length of time set by the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we’ll explain when we quote. Cottages and farmhouses around Northbourne frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- We mark the breach locations in our records.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Why get it checked now?
Repeated call-outs for the same leak add up. A report showing the breach points gives your roofer a clear target. In a small place like Northbourne, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Northbourne
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Photos and a written report every time
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.
Questions from Northbourne
Is the coastal weather around Northbourne hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows, and Northbourne is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Is Northbourne within the area you cover?
Yes, Northbourne is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Can every flat roof be tested?
Not every roof is suitable. Some membranes conduct electricity and some roofs lack the layer the test needs. If your roof will not work, we’ll say so at the start.
Electronic leak detection in Northbourne: local notes
Northbourne is within about 4 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
If you let a flat or house near Walmer station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Augustine, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Northbourne Church of England Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Northbourne is about 2 miles west of Deal, in Kent. We visit Northbourne as part of our work across Kent. Our Kent coverage includes Northbourne. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Electronic leak detection in CT14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on Deal Road, Coulson Grove and Mill Lane. Other places close to Northbourne include Marley (1 mile north), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-east), Finglesham (1 mile north), Sholden Meadows (1 mile east) and Sholden (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (6 miles south), Folkestone (12 miles south-west), Ramsgate (9 miles north) and Broadstairs (11 miles north).
Near you in Northbourne
Typical jobs here are in homes near Castle Community College, Hare & Hounds pub and Betteshanger Park. The nearest railway station is Walmer station, about 2.2 miles south-east. A little further out are Deal Castle (2.8 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.
How the survey changes by roof type
Bituminous membranes
Many flat roofs use bitumen-based membranes. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes are common on commercial and newer roofs. Laps and fixings are where holes often appear.
How we price electronic leak detection
To price your survey, we look at:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The roof’s overall size
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
For a price for electronic leak detection in Northbourne, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.