West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Southwick, West Sussex
Wondering about the flat roof membrane at a property in Southwick? We carry out electronic leak detection in Southwick and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Damage from equipment installers
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Water coming in under a flat roof
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. In total, it takes longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Being in a smaller place like Southwick does not change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. It is useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We start by finding out what the roof is made of and where it leaks.
- We confirm whether the roof is suitable for electronic testing.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- We send a report with photos of each breach so your roofer can repair it.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
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How electronic leak detection works in Southwick
Green roofs, ballasted roofs and roofs under paving are harder to test. The layers on top can limit the methods we can use and parts may need to be lifted. We will discuss it with you when we quote. Any details of the build-up help because they show what’s under the surface. We will tell you if the roof cannot be tested. We are frequently asked to look into leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause and punctures from foot traffic or tools, on flat roof membranes, single-ply roofs and roof terraces and balconies.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Southwick can be more exposed, especially where nothing shelters them, where wind can catch loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. The signs are splits, blisters and edges coming away. Standing water that lingers for days after rain is another sign worth watching for.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the flat roof membrane, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Southwick (BN42, BN41, BN43)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Get leaks traced quickly
- Do not keep patching the same spot
- Tell us about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Record dates and spots where water appears
Where the evidence points to walls, copings or rooflights, we’ll note it, so other causes can be checked.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when fitting equipment. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
What we’re asked to look at in Southwick
When the membrane is buried, holes can’t be seen at all. Electronic methods can help on some of these roofs, depending on the build-up.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Holes around roof penetrations
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
Take a building like Eastbrook Primary Academy: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Questions to ask before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How long the report takes to arrive
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Flat roofs in Southwick
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Southwick, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. With Portslade Manor about 0.8 miles north-east, Southwick sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Churchill Square, outlets and upstands on commercial flat roofs are the places to check before trouble starts. If you live in an older home near St Michael and All Angels Church, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Southwick is about 2 miles east of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. Anywhere in Southwick, we can come and survey your property. Southwick is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for electronic leak detection.
Every address in BN42, BN41 and BN43 is within our area for electronic leak detection. Local streets include Station Road, Roman Crescent and Southwick Street. Southwick sits on or near the A259 and A270, so getting to you is simple. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Kingston by Sea (1 mile north-west), Portslade (1 mile north-east), Shoreham-by-Sea (2 miles west), Hangleton (2 miles north-east) and Old Shoreham (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (7 miles west), Haywards Heath (13 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles north-east), Littlehampton (13 miles west), Lancing (4 miles west) and Rustington (12 miles west).
Near you in Southwick
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Shoreham Academy, Benfield Hill and The Ship Inn and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Southwick itself: Southwick station. Well-known places in the area include Southlands Hospital (1 mile west) and Churchill Square (4 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Shoreham Beach and Thundersbarrow Hill.
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Roof area
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
All our prices include VAT. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Anything about access we should know
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
FAQs for Southwick
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Southwick?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is the coastal weather around Southwick hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Does electronic leak detection work on all membranes?
Not every roof is suitable. Certain membranes are conductive, and some build-ups lack a suitable layer below. We will tell you if yours isn’t suitable at the start.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Do you use low-voltage or high-voltage testing?
The roof decides the method. You will know which method we plan to use before we start.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Towns and villages near Southwick
More services for Southwick
Leave it or get it looked at?
Repairs in the wrong place leave the leak in place. ELD shows the actual breach points. On a bungalow or cottage around Southwick, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Southwick
- Plain-English reports with photos
- PI and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)