Reading · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Sonning Common
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Sonning Common, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Damage from equipment installers
Electronic leak detection in Sonning Common: what you get
There are different ELD methods. Low-voltage methods usually need a wet roof surface, 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. If neither method suits your roof, we will tell you before any testing starts. We survey single-ply roofs, green roofs and liquid-applied waterproofing, and common reasons people get in touch are new roofs to check before paving or planting and stains far from any visible defect.
In a smaller place like Sonning Common, some flat roofs sit in the open, so wind catches loose edges and trims. Felt and bitumen also age in strong sun. Splits, blisters and lifting edges are what to look out for, along with water that sits after rain. Standing water that lingers for days after rain is another sign worth watching for.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Sonning Common (RG4, RG9)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- How wet the insulation is
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- Carrying out the repair work
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
Local flat roofs in Sonning Common
The wider area around Sonning Common has a long history of building, with Greys Court about 2.2 miles north-east. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Next to the main roofs there’s normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you look after a building like Sonning Common Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. Landlords with a home close to Henley-On-Thames station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Sonning Common is about 3 miles north of Caversham, in Reading. Sonning Common is one of many places we visit across Reading, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Every address in RG4 and RG9 is covered for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Wood Lane, Green Lane and Woodbury Close and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Peppard Hill (1 mile north-west), Rotherfield Peppard (1 mile north), Kidmore End (1 mile south-west), Kingwood Common (1 mile north-west) and Shepherd's Green (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Caversham (3 miles south), Norcot (4 miles south-west), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (5 miles south-west), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south). Sonning Common is one of the larger places we cover in Reading.
Near you in Sonning Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, The Warwick School and Hare & Hounds pub. The nearest railway station is Henley-On-Thames station, roughly 3.7 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Frazer Nash Archives (3.8 miles east) and Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). For a walk, there’s Sonning Hill and Warburg Nature Reserve.
Questions from Sonning Common
Do you carry out roof surveys in Sonning Common?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Sonning Common is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Is Sonning Common within the area you cover?
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 when booking.
What’s in the report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
How do you choose the testing method?
The roof decides the method. We will explain why when we quote.
Is my roof suitable for ELD?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Tell us what you know about the roof and we’ll confirm suitability.
What’s the best way to book?
Just call 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Why get it checked now?
Opening up a roof to hunt for a leak is disruptive. ELD aims to locate the breach first, so the repair can be targeted. Arranging work in a smaller place like Sonning Common is easier with notice than in an emergency. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Every finding written up with photos
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Nearby places to Sonning Common
What else we do in Sonning Common
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey usually takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Sonning Common is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Before the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Check new waterproofing before handover
- Find the breach before more patching
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Keep a note of leaks after rain
File the report with your roof paperwork. It’s a dated record of the membrane’s condition.
Keep outlets and gutters on flat roofs clear. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
What we’re asked to look at in Sonning Common
Holes in a membrane frequently come from feet, tools or debris. Many are tiny but water still finds them.
Look out for signs like these:
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
- Damage from equipment installers
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
Take an older house close to The Church of Christ the King: any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What happens after the report arrives
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.