Portsmouth · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Portsmouth
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Portsmouth. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Failed seams and laps
Electronic leak detection in Portsmouth: what you get
Green roofs, ballasted roofs and roofs under paving are harder to test. What sits on the membrane can affect which method will work and parts may need to be lifted. We talk this through before we quote. Drawings or details of the roof’s layers are useful, as they show what lies beneath the surface. We’ll tell you if the roof can’t be tested. We’re frequently asked to look into new membranes needing a check before handover and leaking laps in the waterproofing, on green roofs, single-ply roofs and liquid-applied waterproofing.
In a place like Portsmouth, purpose-built blocks of flats frequently have shared flat roofs, looked after by a managing agent, a residents’ company or the building owner. A leak in the top-floor flat is often the first sign of a problem with the membrane. Finding the cause early limits the damage. Let us know who manages the building, as access to a shared roof has to be arranged.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Portsmouth (PO6, PO4, PO1, PO2)
- Region
- Portsmouth
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price electronic leak detection
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Every price we give includes VAT. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- When you need the report by
- The address and postcode of the property
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Other services in Portsmouth
Portsmouth questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Portsmouth?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near Portsmouth, such as 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.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you check the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
- How wet the insulation is
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Portsmouth
- Commercial flat roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Flat roof membranes
Useful tips for Portsmouth property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Find the breach before more patching
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Have roof specifications to hand
File the report with your roof paperwork. It is a dated record of the membrane’s condition.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. Finding breaches is simpler at that stage.
Electronic leak detection in Portsmouth: local notes
Portsmouth is within about 1 mile of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Take a building like Manor Infant School: a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Portsmouth means lost rooms as well as repairs. For an older house near a landmark such as St Wilfrid, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Portsmouth is in England. We carry out electronic leak detection in Portsmouth for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across the surrounding area.
Surveys in PO6, PO4, PO1 and PO2 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets such as Church Road, April Square and Rudmore Square, and we cover them all. Portsmouth sits on or near the A3 and A27, which makes travel easy. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Rudmore (1 mile north-west), Landport (1 mile south-west), North End (1 mile north), Fratton (1 mile south-east) and Kingston (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover Wymering (3 miles north), Paulsgrove (3 miles north), Drayton (3 miles north-east) and Farlington (3 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Portsmouth
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Portsmouth Academy, Alexandra Park and St Edmund's Catholic School. The nearest railway station is Fratton station, roughly 0.9 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Portsmouth Hospital (0.7 miles south-west) and Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (within half a mile west). Not far away are Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book.
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.
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, emailed to you. On timing, it typically takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. In Portsmouth, we survey everything from flats and houses to commercial buildings. Each building type brings its own access questions, from shared stairwells to locked plant rooms. Surveys can be booked for any day of the week.
- First, you let us know about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- We check that the membrane and build-up suit electronic leak detection.
- The testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.