Essex · London and the South East
Pilgrims Hatch Electronic Leak Detection
An experienced roof surveyor for electronic leak detection in Pilgrims Hatch. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Holes around roof penetrations
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
How electronic leak detection works in Pilgrims Hatch
ELD suits many waterproofing membranes on flat roofs, on homes, blocks and commercial buildings. It can be used to trace an existing leak or check a new membrane before handover. Each roof is quoted on its size and build-up. We can test on weekdays and at weekends when conditions allow. Just ask about your roof. We survey green roofs, commercial flat roofs and roof terraces and balconies, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are repairs that haven’t stopped the leak and new roofs to check before paving or planting.
Around a smaller place like Pilgrims Hatch, flat roofs typically cover extensions, garages and dormers. Even a small flat roof can let plenty of water into the room below. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs, from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber and GRP. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
If any part of the flat roof membrane couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Pilgrims Hatch (CM15, CM14)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Test new membranes before covering them
- Tell us about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Limit access to the roof
- Keep outlets clear of debris
If we think the leak isn’t coming through the membrane, the report says so, so other causes can be checked.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when they work up there. Have the roof looked at after other work.
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take as long as needed for the roof’s area and construction, which we’ll explain when we quote. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Pilgrims Hatch, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- You let us know about the roof and where water is showing.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- We test the roof and locate any breaches.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
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What we’re asked to look at in Pilgrims Hatch
On a flat roof, water spreads under the waterproofing. The leak may show some distance from where water gets in, so tracing it by eye is difficult.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Leaks through a covered membrane
Take an older house close to Saint George's church: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Before you book anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their insurance cover
Why act early in Pilgrims Hatch
A visual inspection can miss tiny holes. Electronic testing can find breaches you can’t see by eye where the roof suits it. Around Pilgrims Hatch, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Pilgrims Hatch
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- A written report with photos
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Flat and commercial roofs around Pilgrims Hatch
Ingatestone Hall, about 4.6 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Pilgrims Hatch. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
For landlords with property near Brentwood station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. If you look after a building such as Larchwood Primary School, schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Pilgrims Hatch is about 1 mile north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. Pilgrims Hatch is one of many places we visit across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Essex, we cover Pilgrims Hatch and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Every address in CM15 and CM14 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer electronic leak detection to properties on Ongar Road, Hatch Road and Green Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Crow Green (1 mile north), South Weald (1 mile south-west), Coxtie Green (1 mile west), Bentley (1 mile north-west) and Doddinghurst Common (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (11 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles south-east), Harlow (12 miles north-west), Canvey Island (15 miles south-east), Billericay (6 miles east) and Rayleigh (14 miles east).
Around Pilgrims Hatch
In Pilgrims Hatch, that means homes and buildings near Black Horse Inn, Sawyers Hall College and Weald Country Park. The nearest railway station is Brentwood station, about 1.6 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Brentwood Community Hospital (1.4 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Thorndon Park.
What we look for on each type of roof
EPDM rubber roofs
EPDM rubber roofs frequently last 30–50 years, but can still be punctured.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid-applied coatings form a seamless layer, but can still have thin spots or holes. Whether ELD works depends on the coating and build-up.
Common questions in Pilgrims Hatch
Is my home in Pilgrims Hatch listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Pilgrims Hatch?
Yes, Pilgrims Hatch is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
How is ELD priced?
We quote for each roof individually. Let us know about the roof and where it leaks, and phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email for a quote.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are 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.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.