Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Pangbourne
Independent electronic leak detection in Pangbourne. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Stains far from any visible defect
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
How electronic leak detection works in Pangbourne
Electronic leak detection, or ELD, finds holes in flat roof waterproofing membranes. It uses a small electrical current which can only get through the membrane at a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see, so your roofer can repair them. The results come in a report with photos. Common reasons to book are gaps at membrane joints and leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause, on liquid-applied waterproofing, commercial flat roofs and roof terraces and balconies.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Pangbourne can be more exposed, particularly where nothing shelters them, where wind can catch loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. The signs are splits, blisters and edges coming away, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Where
- Pangbourne (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Pinholes in a coating can let water through. ELD can help locate them on suitable roofs.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply can be punctured by tools or fixings. ELD can locate them.
How the survey works
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. In a smaller place like Pangbourne, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Pangbourne: your questions answered
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near Pangbourne, like hotels?
Yes, commercial flat roofs are part of what we cover. For a bigger roof, you will get a quote based on the building, and roof access is agreed with you before the visit.
How do I find out if my home in Pangbourne is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Will you repair the leak?
No, the test finds the breaches and your roofer repairs them. Your roofer uses the report to target the repair.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. 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.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Checking the roof from ground level
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Get leaks traced quickly
- Share any drawings of the roof
- Keep a note of leaks after rain
Once repairs are made, the roof can be tested again if you want to check them if the build-up allows.
Limit foot traffic on flat roofs. Many breaches come from foot traffic.
Flat and commercial roofs around Pangbourne
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. The wider area around Pangbourne has a long history of building, with Basildon Park about 1.9 miles north-west. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For landlords with property near Pangbourne station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Pangbourne Primary School, a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. Hotels and guest houses near Pangbourne can’t easily close rooms for a leak.
Pangbourne is about 5 miles west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. Pangbourne gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Pangbourne is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for electronic leak detection.
We survey roofs across the RG8 postcode area for electronic leak detection and the streets around it. You will find streets like High Street, Station Road and Meadow Lane, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Whitchurch-on-Thames (1 mile north), Tidmarsh (1 mile south), Sulham (1 mile south-east), Purley on Thames (2 miles east) and Mapledurham (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Didcot (11 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (8 miles north-east), Benson (10 miles north), Tilehurst (3 miles south-east), Wallingford (8 miles north) and Great Western Park (12 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Pangbourne
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Denefield School and The Cross Keys pub, among other places. Pangbourne has its own railway station: Pangbourne station. Well-known places in the area include Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (3.9 miles south-east) and Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Moor Copse Nature Reserve and Hosehill Lake.
Nearby places to Pangbourne
What else we do in Pangbourne
What we can’t see
It’s a careful look at the flat roof membrane, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Sections we cannot safely access
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up is not suitable
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Pangbourne
- Flat roof membranes
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs