Southampton · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Portswood, Southampton
Find out the condition of the flat roof membrane at your property in Portswood. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- A flat roof leak that can’t be traced
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
About our electronic leak detection in Portswood
Electronic leak detection works on many flat roof membranes, on homes, blocks and commercial buildings. It helps trace a leak you already have or check a new membrane before handover. Each roof is quoted on its size and build-up. Testing can be carried out on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays when conditions allow. Let us know about your roof to find out more. Typical surveys look at a flat roof leak that can’t be traced and leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings, on green roofs, single-ply roofs and liquid-applied waterproofing.
Around a smaller place like Portswood, flat roofs normally cover extensions, garages and dormers. They’re small, but a leak over a kitchen extension can do a lot of harm. Knowing the covering and how it was laid tells you what to expect from it, from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber and GRP. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Portswood (SO17, SO14, SO18)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price electronic leak detection
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How big the roof is
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- What made you get in touch
- The property’s address and postcode
- When you need the report by
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
What we do, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. In a smaller place like Portswood, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- We mark the breach locations in our records.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
How to prepare
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Useful tips for Portswood property owners
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Keep outlets clear of debris
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
The report records each breach location with photos. Your roofer uses it to carry out repairs.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It is easier to find holes before more layers are added.
Why it is worth a survey now in Portswood
Water trapped under a membrane can soak insulation and decking. Finding the breach sooner limits that. Homes in smaller places like Portswood can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
FAQs for Portswood
Is the coastal weather around Portswood hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near Portswood, like hotels?
Yes, commercial flat roofs are part of what we cover. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for the building.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. 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.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Do you need electronic leak detection in Portswood?
If a flat roof keeps leaking after patching, the hole may be elsewhere. Electronic testing helps pinpoint it.
Common reasons to book include:
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- Waterproofing to test before it is covered
If you let a flat or house near St Denys station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Questions to ask before you book
- Are they insured for the work?
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Roof by roof
Inverted and paved roofs
We will tell you if your inverted or paved roof is not suitable.
EPDM rubber roofs
Certain rubber membranes are conductive, which can rule out some methods. We’ll tell you if yours isn’t suitable.
What electronic leak detection looks like in Portswood
Portswood lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. Portswood has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half, and hotels, like offices and blocks of flats, often have flat roofs. For hotels and other commercial buildings, finding the cause of a flat roof leak quickly keeps rooms in use.
A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Portswood means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition. For an older house near a landmark such as Highfield Church, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Portswood is about 1 mile north of Southampton, in Southampton. We survey roofs in Portswood as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Southampton.
Postcode districts we cover here for electronic leak detection: SO17, SO14 and SO18. Whether your property is on Ivy Road, Alma Road and Lawn Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Main roads around Portswood include the A335 and A3035, which makes travel easy. Other places close to Portswood include St Denys (1 mile south-east), Southampton (1 mile south), Inner Avenue (1 mile south-west), Bitterne Manor (1 mile south-east) and Bitterne Park (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Thornhill (3 miles south-east), Maybush (3 miles west), Eling (4 miles west), Rownhams (3 miles north-west), Millbrook (3 miles west) and Weston (3 miles south).
Around Portswood
In Portswood, that means homes and buildings near St Anne's Catholic School, St Mary's Independent School and South Western Arms. Portswood has its own railway station: St Denys station. A little further out are Marlands Shopping Centre (1.5 miles south) and Royal South Hants Hospital (0.9 miles south). The countryside around Portswood includes Netley Common.