Greater London · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Shadwell
Get a clear view of the flat roof membrane at a property in Shadwell. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Patched roofs that still leak
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Failed seams and laps
Electronic leak detection in Shadwell: what you get
You get a report showing the location of each breach, with photos. It tells your roofer exactly where to repair rather than guessing. We don’t estimate repair costs; that is for your roofer to price. Testing again after repairs can confirm the breaches have been dealt with if the build-up allows. You get a written report with photos. If you’ve noticed leaks through a covered membrane and holes around roof penetrations, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Offices, shops and blocks of flats across London frequently have large flat roofs with plant, rooflights and walkways. Every penetration and upstand is a place where a membrane can fail. In Shadwell, roof access is agreed with the building manager or owner beforehand. Rooflights, plant supports and pipe entries are common places for a membrane to fail.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the flat roof membrane, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Shadwell (SE16, E1, E1W)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it usually takes a time that depends on the membrane area and the build-up, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. For a visit in Shadwell, parking and access are the things to plan: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. On the day, the roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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.
- We pick the low-voltage or high-voltage method that suits the roof.
- We test the membrane and find where current is passing through it.
- We send a report with photos of each breach so your roofer can repair it.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Advice
What electronic leak detection doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Roof terraces and balconies
Surveys for landlords and agents in Shadwell
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof membrane, with photos.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Shadwell and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Shadwell
Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Many are tiny, but still let water through.
Common reasons to book include:
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Patched roofs that still leak
- Water coming in under a flat roof
If you live in an older home near St Paul's Church, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What they will not be able to tell you
What electronic leak detection looks like in Shadwell
The wider area around Shadwell has a long history of building, with Mansion House about 1.9 miles west. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Next to the main roofs there is usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
Take a building like Peter Hills with St Mary's and St Paul's CofE Primary School: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Shadwell means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Shadwell is about 1 mile south-east of Whitechapel, in Greater London. In Shadwell, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. Shadwell is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work for electronic leak detection.
Every address in SE16, E1 and E1W is within our area for electronic leak detection. Whether your property is on Swan Road, Thame Road and Brunel Road or a nearby road, we can help. Shadwell is on the A101 and A126, so it’s easy for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Ratcliff (1 mile north), East End of London (1 mile north-west), Wapping (1 mile west), St George in the East (1 mile west) and Limehouse (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover City of Westminster (5 miles west), Marylebone (4 miles west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (3 miles north-west), Walthamstow (6 miles north) and Hampstead (7 miles north-west).
Near you in Shadwell
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bacon's College, Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives and Russia Dock Woodland and the streets around them. Also close by are Prospect of Whitby pub (under half a mile west) and St Mellitus College (0.6 miles west). Shadwell has its own railway station: Wapping station. A little further out are St Olave's Hospital (0.8 miles south-west) and The Pumphouse Educational Museum (less than half a mile east). Open spaces near Shadwell include Lavender Pond and Tower Hill.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Do not leave water getting in
- Check new waterproofing before handover
- Use boards when working on the roof
- Keep a note of leaks after rain
Keep the report with the roof’s records. It is a dated record of the membrane’s condition.
Do not leave a flat roof leak running. The longer water gets in, the more insulation and decking can be affected.
What a survey costs
We confirm the price for the job before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How big the roof is
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
What we need to know
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- When you need the report by
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Your questions about electronic leak detection in Shadwell
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Shadwell?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway when you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shadwell?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
How fast do I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
How do I arrange electronic leak detection in Shadwell?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we will suggest the right survey. We survey seven days a week.
Does electronic leak detection work on all membranes?
ELD does not suit every roof. Some membranes conduct electricity and some roofs lack the layer the test needs. If your roof will not work, we’ll say so before testing.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.