Reading · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Sonning, Reading
We take a careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Sonning, with photographs and a written report.
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
- Stains far from any visible defect
About our electronic leak detection in Sonning
There are different ELD methods. Low-voltage methods typically 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’ll explain our choice. If neither method suits your roof, we will tell you before any testing starts. If you’ve noticed leaks through a covered membrane and gaps at membrane joints, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Sonning are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Where
- Sonning (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Electronic leak detection around Sonning
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
For businesses in and around places such as The Oracle, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks. The streets around a church like St Andrew's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Sonning is about 1 mile north-west of Woodley, in Reading. We cover Sonning and the rest of Reading. We cover towns and villages across Reading, large and small.
Postcode districts we cover here for electronic leak detection: RG4. Whether your property is on High Street, Parkway Drive and Pound Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. You will find Sonning on the B478 and B4446, so it’s easy for us to get to. Nearby, we also carry out electronic leak detection in Play Hatch (1 mile north-west), Dunsden Green (2 miles north-west), Newtown (2 miles south-west), Caversham Park Village (2 miles north-west) and Littlestead Green (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Caversham (3 miles west), Norcot (5 miles west), West Reading (4 miles west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south-west) and Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south).
Local landmarks in Sonning
Typical jobs here are in homes near Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve, Bull Inn and Waingels College. Sonning’s nearest station is Twyford station, about 1.9 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.5 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Sonning Hill and South Lake.
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Places near Sonning
What else we do in Sonning
Questions from Sonning
Do you cover Sonning?
Yes, Sonning is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Sonning is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Does electronic leak detection work on all membranes?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Let us know what you know about the roof and we will confirm suitability.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
How does ELD work?
It uses an electrical current to find breaches in a flat roof membrane. A breach lets the current through so we can pinpoint it.
What happens after the survey?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Sonning
Other trades on the roof can puncture the waterproofing. Fixings, equipment and foot traffic can leave small holes.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Holes around roof penetrations
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Damage from equipment installers
If you look after a building such as Sonning Church of England Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
How it works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. In total, it takes a time that depends on the roof’s area and construction, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. Cottages and farmhouses around Sonning often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- The roof is assessed to see if electronic testing will work on it.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Check pets are kept safely away
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Have roof specifications to hand
- Keep outlets clear of debris
- Check trades protect the waterproofing
- Keep a note of leaks after rain
Questions about the results are welcome. We will explain what was found and what it means.
Consider testing a new membrane before it is covered. Finding breaches is simpler at that stage.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Sonning
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the flat roof membrane, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Sonning and across Reading can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Why it is worth a survey now in Sonning
Repeated call-outs for the same leak add up. A clear record of where the breaches are helps break that cycle. Outbuildings and barns around Sonning are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Sonning
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- 20+ years’ experience
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays