Kent · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Sholden
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Sholden, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Failed seams and laps
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- New membranes needing a check before handover
Local flat roofs in Sholden
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Sholden, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
Walmer Castle lies about 2 miles south-east, so building around Sholden goes back a long way. Older homes nearby may have later flat-roofed extensions or dormers, frequently re-covered more than once. Take a building like Sholden Church of England Primary School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Sholden is about 1 mile north-west of Deal, in Kent. Wherever you are in Sholden, we can carry out electronic leak detection at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Kent, we cover Sholden. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Electronic leak detection in CT14 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on The Street, London Road and Colmanton Grove or a nearby road, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Sholden Meadows (1 mile west), Mill Hill (1 mile south), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-west), Deal (1 mile south-east) and Finglesham (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (13 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (7 miles south-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (10 miles north).
Around Sholden
Typical jobs here are in homes near Betteshanger Park, Castle Community College and The Magnet pub. For rail, the closest station is Deal station, roughly 1.1 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Deal Castle (1.4 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (1.2 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.
How electronic leak detection works in Sholden
You get a report showing the location of each breach, with photos. It tells your roofer exactly where to repair instead of hunting for the leak. Repair costs aren’t part of the report; that’s for your roofer to price. A retest after repairs can check the work if the build-up allows. You get a written report with photos. If you’ve noticed water coming in under a flat roof and damp inside with no sign on the roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Somewhere as small as Sholden, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Sholden (CT14)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- How wet the insulation is
- Repairing the breaches (that is for your roofer)
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
Common roof problems in Sholden
On a flat roof, water spreads under the waterproofing. The leak may show some distance from where water gets in which makes it hard to find by looking.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Nicholas, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will the report include photos?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Also near Sholden
More services for Sholden
What happens on the day
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we’ll explain when we quote. Cottages and farmhouses around Sholden frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- We mark the breach locations in our records.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Getting a price
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 phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Inverted and paved roofs
We’ll tell you if your inverted or paved roof is not suitable.
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Liquid-applied coatings form a seamless layer, but can still have thin spots or holes. Whether ELD works depends on the coating and build-up.
Your questions about electronic leak detection in Sholden
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Sholden, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sholden?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
How much time does ELD need?
Testing usually takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Does electronic leak detection work on all membranes?
That depends on the roof’s membrane and layers. Let us know what you know about the roof and we will confirm suitability.
Can you find leaks on a covered flat roof?
Sometimes. The layers on top and the build-up below decide it, and some may need lifting. We will discuss it before we quote.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Sholden
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Useful tips for Sholden property owners
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Find the breach before more patching
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Note where leaks show inside and when
After your roofer repairs the breaches, a retest can confirm them if the build-up allows.
Keep people off the flat roof unless they need to be there. Feet and dropped tools are a common cause of holes.