East Sussex · London and the South East
Southover Electronic Leak Detection
Independent electronic leak detection in Southover. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- Holes around roof penetrations
Different roofs, different checks
Single-ply membranes
ELD often works on single-ply membranes, depending on the type and build-up.
Bituminous membranes
ELD is often possible on bituminous membranes, depending on what’s below.
How electronic leak detection works in Southover
ELD is a way of pinpointing breaches in a flat roof’s waterproofing membrane. It uses a small electrical current which can only get through the membrane at a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see so your roofer knows exactly where to repair. You get a written report with photographs of each breach found. If you’ve noticed leaks under green or ballasted roofs and stains far from any visible defect, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Around Southover, many homes have a garden room, garage or outbuilding with a flat roof. They’re rarely looked at until something gets wet. If you want them looked at too, mention them when booking. Smaller roofs use the same coverings as bigger ones, from felt to rubber and GRP, and age in the same way.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Southover (BN7, BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. In a smaller place like Southover, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- 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.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets in another room
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us a few details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Flat and commercial roofs around Southover
The wider area around Southover has a long history of building, with Anne of Cleves House about 0.2 miles south-west. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. There are several hotels within about a mile and a half of Southover, and hotels, like offices and blocks of flats, frequently have flat roofs. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Michael, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. For landlords with property near Lewes station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Hotels and guest houses near Southover can’t easily close rooms for a leak, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition.
Southover is about 1 mile south-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. We carry out electronic leak detection for householders, landlords and businesses in Southover. Southover is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex we cover for electronic leak detection. Brighton is in our area too.
We survey roofs across the BN7 and BN8 postcode area for electronic leak detection. We cover properties on Ham Lane, New Road and Bell Lane and the roads around them. Southover is on the A277 and A2029, so it’s easy for us to get to. If you’re just outside Southover, we cover Cliffe (1 mile north-east), Lewes (1 mile north-west), South Malling (1 mile north), Iford (2 miles south-west) and Offham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (13 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (8 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south).
Landmarks near Southover
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Kings Head pub, Priory School and Railway Land, among other places. There’s a railway station in Southover itself: Lewes station. Nearby you’ll also find Lewes Castle (under half a mile north-west) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.9 miles north-east). Not far away are Cliffe Hill and Southerham Farm.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Ask contractors to protect the membrane
- Check new waterproofing before handover
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
Wet insulation may need attention after a leak. Your roofer can advise on that, and moisture readings can help.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. Finding breaches is simpler at that stage.
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
- Repairing the breaches (that’s for your roofer)
- How wet the insulation is
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Leave it or get it looked at?
Repeated call-outs for the same leak add up. A clear record of where the breaches are helps break that cycle. With lower homes, common in places like Southover, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why book us in Southover
- An independent view of the roof
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Also near Southover
What else we do in Southover
Common questions in Southover
How do I find out if my home in Southover is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near Southover, like hotels?
Yes, commercial flat roofs are part of what we cover. For a bigger roof, you will get a quote based on the building.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, like sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How fast do I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
How do I book a survey in Southover?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on any day of the week.