West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Pagham, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Pagham, with photos and a written report.
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- A flat roof leak that can’t be traced
- Stains far from any visible defect
How electronic leak detection works in Pagham
Roofs covered with paving, ballast or planting need more thought. The layers on top can limit the methods we can use and parts may need to be lifted. We talk this through before we quote. Any details of the build-up help because they show what’s under the surface. If testing isn’t possible, we’ll say so. Common reasons to book are failed seams and laps and holes around roof penetrations, across roof terraces and balconies, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes.
Somewhere as small as Pagham, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
Where we cannot see part of the flat roof membrane, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Pagham (PO21)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Pagham
Seams are a common weak point in flat roof waterproofing. A gap that’s hard to see can let water in for months before it shows.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Failed seams and laps
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
If you own a rental within reach of Bognor Regis station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. All told, expect a time that depends on the roof’s area and construction, which we set out in the quote. Older roofs in small places like Pagham can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Book a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Roof by roof
Single-ply membranes
Some single-ply membranes suit electronic testing well but it depends on the product and layers.
Bituminous membranes
Bituminous felt and modified bitumen membranes are common. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
Places near Pagham
Other services in Pagham
What electronic leak detection doesn’t cover
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Fixing the holes we find
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up is not suitable
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
Questions from Pagham
Is my home in Pagham listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Pagham, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Does ELD include fixing the breach?
No, the test finds the breaches and your roofer repairs them. Your roofer uses the report to target the repair.
Is my roof suitable for ELD?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Let us know what you know about the roof and we will check whether ELD will work.
Do you use low-voltage or high-voltage testing?
The roof decides the method. We’ll explain why when we quote.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Flat and commercial roofs around Pagham
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Pagham, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If you look after a building such as Rose Green Infant School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Thomas A Becket are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Pagham is about 3 miles south-west of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Pagham is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
Every address in PO21 is within our area for electronic leak detection. Whether your property is on Swan Dene, Sea Lane and Well Road or a nearby road, we can help. If you are just outside Pagham, we cover Nyetimber (1 mile north-east), Aldwick (2 miles north-east), Church Norton (2 miles south-west), Sidlesham (2 miles west) and South Mundham (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles north-east), Chichester (5 miles north), Selsey (3 miles south-west), Littlehampton (10 miles east) and Emsworth (10 miles north-west).
What’s near Pagham
Around Pagham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Lamb pub and Avisford and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Bognor Regis station, roughly 3.2 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (3.3 miles north-east) and Bognor Regis Museum (2.9 miles east).
Useful tips for Pagham property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Don’t leave water getting in
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Record dates and spots where water appears
If we think the leak is not coming through the membrane, the report says so, with a suggestion of what to check next.
Do not leave a flat roof leak running. Water under a membrane can spread.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A visual inspection can miss tiny holes. ELD picks up breaches a visual check might miss where the roof suits it. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Pagham, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Every price we give includes VAT. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Pagham
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.