Hampshire · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Sprat's Down, Hampshire
We carry out electronic leak detection in Sprat's Down and the rest of Hampshire. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Waterproofing to test before it’s covered
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- A flat roof leak that cannot be traced
DIY checks: what’s safe
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
How electronic leak detection works in Sprat's Down
Some flat roofs can’t be tested electronically. Certain membranes conduct electricity, and some build-ups lack the layer the test needs below the membrane. We’ll say if ELD will not work on your roof at the start. Any details you have about the membrane and build-up help us decide, such as drawings or specifications. It saves a wasted visit. If you are worried about holes left by work on the roof and leaks that return after repairs, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Sprat's Down, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Sprat's Down (SO45)
- Region
- Hampshire
- 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
What we can’t see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- The extent of water in the insulation
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up isn’t suitable
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Flat roof membranes
- Single-ply roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
What we look for on each type of roof
EPDM rubber roofs
Some EPDM membranes conduct electricity which can limit electronic testing. We will say if the test won’t work.
Green and ballasted roofs
Some layers may need lifting for testing. We discuss this before quoting.
Flat roofs in Sprat's Down
Sprat's Down is within about 2 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Beaulieu Palace House, about 4.7 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Sprat's Down. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take a building like Fawley Infant School: a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St George, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Sprat's Down is about 4 miles north of Cowes, in Hampshire. In Sprat's Down, as across Hampshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Sprat's Down is one of the places in Hampshire where we work for electronic leak detection. You can also see our page for Southampton.
Every address in SO45 is within our area for electronic leak detection. We also cover the places around Sprat's Down: Calshot (1 mile east), Stonehills (1 mile north), Stanswood (1 mile south), Hillhead (1 mile east) and Ashlett (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Gosport (8 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles north), Fareham (7 miles north-east), Totton (10 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north) and Hedge End (7 miles north).
Near you in Sprat's Down
Around Sprat's Down, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Falcon Hotel. Sprat's Down’s nearest station is Hamble station, about 4 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Calshot Castle (1.6 miles east) and Sir Max Aitken Museum (3.9 miles south-east). Open spaces near Sprat's Down include Mercury Marshes and Mill Hill.
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take longer on a large roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. Older rural homes like those around Sprat's Down can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- The surface is prepared for the chosen method.
- Testing runs across the agreed area.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Getting a price
For a price for electronic leak detection in Sprat's Down, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Also in Sprat's Down
FAQs for Sprat's Down
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sprat's Down?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Sprat's Down within the area you cover?
Yes, Sprat's Down is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Do you use low-voltage or high-voltage testing?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Low-voltage methods are usually carried out on a wet roof, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane.
What is electronic leak detection?
The waterproofing membrane normally stops an electrical current, but a hole lets it through. That lets us find breaches that are too small to see.
How do I arrange electronic leak detection in Sprat's Down?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What we are asked to look at in Sprat's Down
Holes in a membrane often come from feet, tools or debris. Many are tiny, but still let water through.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- A flat roof leak that cannot be traced
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Patched roofs that still leak
- Breaches around outlets and penetrations
If you own a rental within reach of Hamble station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What insurance they carry
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs