East Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in South Malling
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in South Malling, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Stains far from any visible defect
South Malling questions
Is South Malling within the area you cover?
Yes, South Malling is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near South Malling, like hotels?
Yes, commercial flat roofs are part of what we cover. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for the building.
How long does electronic leak detection take?
Testing typically takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Electronic leak detection in South Malling: what you get
We carry out electronic leak detection on flat roofs in South Malling and across London and the South East. A visit usually takes more time on a big roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Every roof is quoted on its size and build-up. You get a report with photos. If you’ve noticed holes left by work on the roof and damp inside with no sign on the roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on liquid-applied waterproofing, single-ply roofs and commercial flat roofs alike.
Flat roofs in smaller places like South Malling can be more exposed, especially where nothing shelters them, so wind catches loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. Splits, blisters and lifting edges are what to look out for. Standing water that lingers for days after rain is another sign worth watching for.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- South Malling (BN7, BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take a time that depends on the membrane area and the build-up, which we’ll explain when we quote. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around South Malling, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- The testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- We test the membrane and find where current is passing through it.
- You get a report showing where each breach is, for your roofer to repair.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Related advice
What we can’t see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Sections we can’t safely access
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
When to book a survey in South Malling
Holes in a membrane often come from feet, tools or debris. Many are tiny but water still finds them.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Patched roofs that still leak
For hotels and guest houses around South Malling, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest.
Before you book anyone
- How soon the report will arrive
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Let us know about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Consider ELD before paving or planting goes on
Questions about the results are welcome. We can talk you through the findings.
Clear flat roof outlets regularly. Standing water puts more pressure on any weak point.
Local flat roofs in South Malling
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. About 0.8 miles south-west lies Anne of Cleves House, a reminder of how long the area around South Malling has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own a rental within reach of Lewes station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. The streets around a church like Church of St Michael are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
South Malling is about 1 mile north-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. In South Malling, as across East Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, large and small. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Surveys in BN7 and BN8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need electronic leak detection at a property on Lee Road, New Road and Mill Road or a nearby road, we can help. Being close to the A26 and A2029, South Malling is easy for us to reach. If you are just outside South Malling, we cover Lewes (1 mile south-west), Cliffe (1 mile south-east), Southover (1 mile south), Hamsey (1 mile north) and Offham (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south).
Landmarks near South Malling
Around South Malling, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Elephant and Castle pub, Priory School and Railway Land and the streets around them. The closest station to South Malling is Lewes station, roughly 0.7 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Lewes Victoria Hospital (0.8 miles south-west) and Lewes Castle (0.5 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Malling Down and Cliffe Hill.
What else we do in South Malling
Checking the roof from ground level
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
How the survey changes by roof type
Green and ballasted roofs
Testing before planting or ballast goes on is simpler.
EPDM rubber roofs
ELD on EPDM depends on the product and the layers. We check this first.