Southampton · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Shirley, Southampton
An experienced roof surveyor for electronic leak detection in Shirley. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Shirley
Roofs covered with paving, ballast or planting need more thought. The layers on top can limit the methods we can use and parts may need to be lifted. We talk this through before we quote. Any details of the build-up help, as they show what lies beneath the surface. We’ll tell you if the roof can’t be tested. We are often asked to look into holes around roof penetrations and failed seams and laps, across liquid-applied waterproofing, single-ply roofs and commercial flat roofs.
In smaller places like Shirley, flat roofs are mostly on extensions, garages, porches and dormers. They’re small, but a leak over a kitchen extension can do a lot of harm. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Where
- Shirley (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Find the breach before more patching
- Test new membranes before covering them
- Make sure trades protect the waterproofing
After your roofer repairs the breaches, a retest can confirm them if the build-up allows.
Clear flat roof outlets regularly. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
Roof by roof
EPDM rubber roofs
EPDM rubber roofs often last 30–50 years, but punctures and seam failures still happen.
Bituminous membranes
Many flat roofs use bitumen-based membranes. The build-up decides which method will work.
Checking the roof from the ground
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Shirley: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Shirley?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Can you look at the flat roof of a hotel or office near Shirley?
Yes, we cover commercial roofs as well as homes. Access to the roof is sorted out with whoever manages the building before the day.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
How fast do I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Do you look in the roof space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
How do you choose the testing method?
The roof decides the method. You’ll know which method we plan to use before we start.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
Towns and villages near Shirley
What else we do in Shirley
Landlords, agents and block managers in Shirley
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof membrane, with photos.
Why get it checked now?
Cutting open a flat roof to find a leak can cause more damage. Electronic testing finds the hole first, so the repair can be targeted. Blocked gutters on homes around Shirley overflow and soak walls. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
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 safely it can be seen. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Why book with us
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Photos and a written report every time
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the flat roof membrane as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit typically takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Parking around Shirley is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know where you stand. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Electronic leak detection in Shirley: local notes
Shirley is within about 1 mile of the coast, 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. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Next to the main roofs there is typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you look after a building such as Wordsworth Primary School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. For hotels and guest houses around Shirley, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Shirley Parish Church, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Shirley is about 2 miles west of Southampton, in Southampton. From houses to flats and shops in Shirley, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our Southampton coverage includes Shirley.
We survey roofs across SO15, SO16 and SO17 for electronic leak detection. You will find streets such as May Road, Dyer Road and York Road, and we cover them all. Shirley sits on or near the A3057. We also cover Regents Park (1 mile west), Freemantle (1 mile south), Millbrook (1 mile south-west), Coxford (1 mile north-west) and Maybush (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Townhill Park (3 miles east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles south-east). Being one of Southampton’s larger places, Shirley has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Around Shirley
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Crown Public House, St James' Park and Regents Park Community College and the streets around them. Shirley’s nearest station is Millbrook (Hants) station, roughly 0.7 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (1 mile south-east). Green spaces nearby include Testwood Lakes.