Kent · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Old Wives Lees
Get a clear view of the flat roof membrane at a property in Old Wives Lees from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- New membranes needing a check before handover
Electronic leak detection in Old Wives Lees: what you get
Green roofs, ballasted roofs and roofs under paving are harder to test. What sits on the membrane can affect which method will work and parts may need to be lifted. We talk this through before we quote. Any details of the build-up help, as they show what lies beneath the surface. We will tell you if the roof can’t be tested. We survey liquid-applied waterproofing, commercial flat roofs and green roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are failed seams and laps and breaches hidden under paving or planting.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Old Wives Lees take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, frequently around 15–20 years in life, show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the flat roof membrane, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Old Wives Lees (CT4)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Moisture spread under the membrane
- Areas we can’t reach or that cannot be tested
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Old Wives Lees
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Single-ply roofs
Also near Old Wives Lees
Other services in Old Wives Lees
Questions from Old Wives Lees
Do you cover Old Wives Lees?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Old Wives Lees is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
Is Old Wives Lees within the area you cover?
Yes. Old Wives Lees is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. 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.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it is safe. We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
What’s the price of ELD?
We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. The price depends on the roof’s size and build-up. To get a quote, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What does electronic leak detection do?
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.
How do you choose the testing method?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Low-voltage testing normally needs a wet surface and high-voltage methods need the membrane dry and exposed.
What affects the price in Old Wives Lees
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
How it works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. All told, expect a time that depends on the membrane area and the build-up, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. Rural addresses near Old Wives Lees can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Electronic leak detection in Old Wives Lees: local notes
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Next to the main roofs there is normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start.
Old Wives Lees is about 5 miles west of Canterbury, in Kent. Wherever you are in Old Wives Lees, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
Electronic leak detection in CT4 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need electronic leak detection at a property on Cherry Orchard, Cobbs Hill and Green Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Chilham (1 mile south), Mountain Street (1 mile south), Oversland (2 miles north), Neames Forstal (2 miles north-west) and Shottenden (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (9 miles south-west), Canterbury (5 miles east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north-west), Folkestone (15 miles south-east), Whitstable (7 miles north) and Faversham (5 miles north-west).
What’s near Old Wives Lees
In Old Wives Lees, that means homes and buildings near Broadham Down and The Star Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Old Wives Lees is Chilham station, about 0.8 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Chilham Castle (0.9 miles south-west) and Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr (5.1 miles east). For a walk, there’s Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Make sure trades protect the waterproofing
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Note where leaks show inside and when
After your roofer repairs the breaches, a retest can confirm them if the build-up allows.
Clear flat roof outlets regularly. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Old Wives Lees
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Old Wives Lees
Other trades on the roof can puncture the waterproofing. Engineers fitting equipment, solar panels or aerials may leave damage behind.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Stains far from any visible defect
If you let a flat or house near Chilham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Their report turnaround times