Reading · London and the South East
Play Hatch Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Play Hatch, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- A flat roof leak that can’t be traced
Surveys for landlords and agents in Play Hatch
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Landlords and letting agents in Play Hatch book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof membrane, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
About our electronic leak detection in Play Hatch
We carry out electronic leak detection on flat roofs in Play Hatch and across London and the South East. Testing usually takes a length of time set by the roof’s area and construction, which we’ll explain when we quote. Every roof is quoted on its size and build-up. The results come in a written report with photos. If you are worried about leaks showing away from the breach and gaps at membrane joints, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on roof terraces and balconies, flat roof membranes and liquid-applied waterproofing alike.
Some older homes in villages like Play Hatch are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Place
- Play Hatch (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Share any drawings of the roof
- Keep outlets clear of debris
- Make sure trades protect the waterproofing
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
Keep the report with the roof’s records. It shows the condition of the membrane on that date.
Make sure contractors protect the waterproofing when fitting equipment. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes a length of time set by the roof’s area and construction, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. For a village or hamlet like Play Hatch, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- The test method is chosen to suit the roof.
- We test the roof and locate any breaches.
- A report with photos shows where each breach is.
Before we arrive
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Areas we cannot reach or that can’t be tested
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
Different roofs, different checks
Inverted and paved roofs
On inverted roofs, insulation sits above the membrane and that changes how testing works.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes are common on commercial and newer roofs. Laps and fixings are where holes often appear.
Flat and commercial roofs around Play Hatch
With Mapledurham House about 4.4 miles west, Play Hatch sits in an area with a long building history. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If you live in an older home near St Andrew's Church, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. If you let a flat or house near Reading station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Take a building like St Martin's Catholic Primary School: schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We survey roofs in Play Hatch and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Reading, large and small.
Every address in RG4 is within our area for electronic leak detection. You will find streets such as Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Play Hatch: Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Play Hatch
We work in homes and buildings around Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Reading Blue Coat School and The Shoulder of Mutton pub, among other places. Play Hatch’s nearest station is Reading station, about 2.2 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Alder Moors and South Lake.
Questions from Play Hatch
Is Play Hatch in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Play Hatch as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you cover smaller places like Play Hatch?
Yes, Play Hatch is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
What is electronic leak detection?
ELD passes a small electrical current across the roof to locate holes in the membrane. A breach lets the current through so we can pinpoint it.
Prices for electronic leak detection in Play Hatch
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know where you stand. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.