West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Southwater, West Sussex
Not sure what state the flat roof membrane is in? We carry out electronic leak detection in Southwater and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Leaks through a covered membrane
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Leaks that return after repairs
Southwater questions
Is my home in Southwater listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Southwater within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How quickly is the report sent?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, like sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
How long will testing take?
It depends on the size of the roof and its build-up. You’ll know roughly how long before we start.
How is ELD priced?
We quote for each roof individually. Send us details of the roof, and ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email for a quote.
How electronic leak detection works in Southwater
Electronic leak detection, or ELD, finds holes in flat roof waterproofing membranes. It uses a small electrical current that passes through the membrane only where there is a breach. It can find holes too small to spot by eye, so your roofer can repair them. The results come in a report with photos. We survey single-ply roofs, liquid-applied waterproofing and green roofs, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp inside with no sign on the roof and waterproofing to test before it’s covered.
Around a smaller place like Southwater, flat roofs usually cover extensions, garages and dormers. Even a small flat roof can let a good many water into the room below. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs, from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber and GRP. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Southwater (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What electronic leak detection looks like in Southwater
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Holy Innocents Church, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. Landlords with a home close to Christs Hospital station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. Take a building like Southwater Infant Academy: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Southwater is about 3 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. In Southwater, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
We survey roofs across the RH13 postcode area for electronic leak detection and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Station Road, Walmer Close and Pevensey Road, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Southwater, we cover Tower Hill (2 miles north), Nuthurst (2 miles east), Brooks Green (2 miles west), Barns Green (2 miles west) and Maplehurst (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (3 miles north), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (11 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south).
What’s near Southwater
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Lintot pub and The Doyle School of Design and Technology, among other places. Southwater’s nearest station is Christs Hospital station, about 1.9 miles north-west. A little further out are Christs Hospital School Museum (1.5 miles north-west) and Horsham Hospital (3.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Knepp Wildland.
How the survey changes by roof type
Single-ply membranes
Many offices and units have single-ply roofs. Seams and penetrations are typical breach points.
Inverted and paved roofs
A terrace or paved roof hides the waterproofing. Whether it can be tested depends on the build-up.
The survey, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. Most surveys take longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. A visit to Southwater is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You tell us about the roof and where water is showing.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- The test method is chosen to suit the roof.
- We test the roof and locate any breaches.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Preparing for the visit
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
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.
Places near Southwater
Also in Southwater
What we can’t see
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- How wet the insulation is
- Sections we cannot safely access
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof membranes
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Do not leave water getting in
- Share any drawings of the roof
- Don’t keep patching the same spot
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
If we think the leak isn’t coming through the membrane, the report says so, so other causes can be checked.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when they work up there. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.