West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Patching, West Sussex
Electronic leak detection across Patching, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Stains far from any visible defect
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Holes around roof penetrations
Electronic leak detection in Patching
ELD can be carried out in more than one way. Low-voltage methods typically need a wet roof surface, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane. The right method depends on the membrane and the build-up of the roof, and we will explain our choice. We’ll say if your roof doesn’t suit either method before any testing starts. Typical surveys look at leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause and patched roofs that still leak, on flat roof membranes, commercial flat roofs and green roofs.
In a small place like Patching, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, typically show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Patching (BN13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Green and ballasted roofs
Parts of the covering may have to come up. We explain what’s needed when we quote.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid-applied coatings form a seamless layer, but can still have thin spots or holes. Suitability for ELD depends on the system.
What electronic leak detection looks like in Patching
Patching is within about 4 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. The wider area around Patching has a long history of building, with Ecclesden Manor about 1.5 miles south-west. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Take a building like Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School: a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St John the Divine: later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Patching is about 3 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. Patching gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at what can be seen safely, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the BN13 postcode area for electronic leak detection. Whether your property is on The Street and Coldharbour Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Patching: Clapham (1 mile south-east), Hammerpot (2 miles west), Cote (2 miles east), Angmering (2 miles south-west) and Hangleton (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (3 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles east) and Lancing (6 miles east).
What’s near Patching
We work in homes and buildings around The Fox pub, The Angmering School and Clapham Wood. Patching’s nearest station is Goring-By-Sea station, about 2.3 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Museum of Sussex Folklore (3.1 miles south-east) and Old Castle (3.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Patching include WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
More services for Patching
Landlord and commercial surveys in Patching
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Patching and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
When to book a survey in Patching
On a flat roof, water spreads under the waterproofing. The leak may show some distance from where water gets in which makes it hard to find by looking.
Common reasons to book include:
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
If you let a flat or house near Goring-By-Sea station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
What to check before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What exactly goes into their report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Height and safe access
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- When you need the report by
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, it usually takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. For a village or hamlet like Patching, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- 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 testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- You get a report showing where each breach is, for your roofer to repair.
Getting ready for the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Questions from Patching
Do you cover smaller places like Patching?
Yes, Patching is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Patching?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you use low-voltage or high-voltage testing?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Low-voltage methods are normally carried out on a wet roof, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect what can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Repairs in the wrong place leave the leak in place. ELD shows the actual breach points. Outbuildings and barns around Patching are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
All our prices include VAT. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. You’ll know the exact price before you book.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- An independent look at the roof
- PI and public liability insurance
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.