Greater London · London and the South East
Purley Electronic Leak Detection
An experienced roof surveyor for electronic leak detection in Purley. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Holes around roof penetrations
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
How electronic leak detection works in Purley
There are different ELD methods. Low-voltage testing is typically done with the surface wet, 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 at the outset. We survey single-ply roofs, liquid-applied waterproofing and commercial flat roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are new roofs to check before paving or planting and breaches hidden under paving or planting.
London has a lot of flat roofs: rear additions, dormers, roof terraces and the roofs of blocks and offices. Coverings range from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes, each with its own weak points. In Purley, as anywhere in London, the right approach depends on what the roof is made of. Many older flat roofs are felt or asphalt, and many newer ones EPDM rubber or GRP.
The report records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Where
- Purley (CR8, CR2, CR5)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Local flat roofs in Purley
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. About 3.6 miles north-east lies Addington Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Purley has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you run a business near St George's Walk, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks. If you look after a building such as Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley), large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. If you own a rental within reach of Purley station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Purley is about 2 miles south-west of Croydon, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Purley, we can carry out electronic leak detection at your property. Purley is one of the places in Greater London where we work for electronic leak detection. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
All of CR8, CR2 and CR5 is covered for electronic leak detection. Whether your property is on High Street, Church Road and Brighton Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Main roads around Purley include the A2022, so getting to you is simple. We also cover the places around Purley: Peaks Hill (1 mile north-west), Woodcote (1 mile west), Russell Hill (1 mile north), Roundshaw (1 mile north-west) and Woodcote Green (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (12 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Around Purley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Jolly Farmers pub, Laleham Lea School and Thomas More Catholic School and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Purley itself: Purley station. A little further out are Purley War Memorial Hospital (under half a mile north-east) and St George's Walk (2.7 miles north). For a walk, there’s Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Testing a new membrane before it is covered is easier than tracing a leak later. Covered roofs are harder to test. In Purley, as in much of London, water from a roof defect can reach a neighbour’s home as easily as yours: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Purley
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent view of the roof
- 98% of clients satisfied
See our cost guide and our case studies.
What we look for on each type of roof
EPDM rubber roofs
EPDM is a long-lasting flat roof membrane, but punctures and seam failures still happen.
Green and ballasted roofs
Some layers may need lifting for testing. We discuss this before quoting.
Questions from Purley
Do you cover Purley?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and Purley is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Purley?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway when booking. That way the visit can be planned around it.
How does ELD work?
ELD passes a small electrical current across the roof to locate holes in the membrane. A breach lets the current through, which shows us where the hole is.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not 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 suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
When does the report arrive?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Will you repair the leak?
No. We test the membrane and report. The report shows where each breach is for your roofer to repair.
What’s the price of ELD?
We quote for each roof individually. Tell us about the roof and where it leaks. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form for a quote.
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Sections we can’t safely access
- Some conductive membranes
- Fixing the holes we find
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
Also in Purley
Useful tips for Purley property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Limit access to the roof
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Do not leave water getting in
- Note where leaks show inside and when
If water has been getting in, insulation under the membrane may be wet. Your roofer can advise on that and other checks can help judge it.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when they work up there. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Surveys in Purley can be booked for any day of the week. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- First, you tell us about the roof build-up and where water is showing.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- We pick the low-voltage or high-voltage method that suits the roof.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- We send a report with photos of each breach so your roofer can repair it.
How to prepare
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know about parking before the day
How to book
To get a price for electronic leak detection in Purley, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.