Hertfordshire · London and the South East
St Ibbs Electronic Leak Detection
A careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in St Ibbs, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Damp inside with no sign on the roof
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
How the survey changes by roof type
Bituminous membranes
Many flat roofs use bitumen-based membranes. Whether ELD suits them depends on the build-up.
Inverted and paved roofs
If the build-up rules out ELD, we’ll say so.
About our electronic leak detection in St Ibbs
ELD can be carried out in more than one way. Low-voltage methods usually need a wet roof surface and high-voltage methods need the membrane dry and exposed. Which one suits depends on the membrane and the layers of the roof, and we will explain our choice. We’ll say if your roof does not suit either method at the outset. If you’re worried about breaches around outlets and penetrations and punctures from foot traffic or tools, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a small place like St Ibbs, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. 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. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- St Ibbs (SG4)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. Older rural homes like those around St Ibbs can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- 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.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- A report with photos shows where each breach is.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Landlord and commercial surveys in St Ibbs
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
FAQs for St Ibbs
Do you carry out roof surveys in St Ibbs?
Yes, St Ibbs is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Will you come out to St Ibbs?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
How do you choose the testing method?
The roof decides the method. We will explain why when we quote.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What is electronic leak detection?
It uses an electrical current to find breaches in a flat roof membrane. A breach lets the current through, which shows us where the hole is.
Honest limits
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
Flat roofs in St Ibbs
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. About 4.1 miles south-east lies Knebworth House, a reminder of how long the area around St Ibbs has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Ippolyts (church of England), flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. If you look after a building such as St Ippolyts Church of England Aided Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
St Ibbs is about 2 miles south of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. Whether the building in St Ibbs is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Across Hertfordshire, we cover St Ibbs and the places around it. Our Milton Keynes page covers surveys nearby.
All of SG4 is within our area for electronic leak detection, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Sperberry Hill (1 mile north-east), Little Almshoe (1 mile south), St Ippolyts (1 mile north-east), Gosmore (1 mile north-west) and Titmore Green (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns like Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south-west), Stevenage (4 miles east), St Albans (12 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south), Harpenden (8 miles south-west) and Hatfield (11 miles south).
Landmarks near St Ibbs
We work in homes and buildings around Hitchin Girls' School, The Bull Public House and Kingshott School and the streets around them. The closest station to St Ibbs is Hitchin station, about 1.9 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Lister Hospital (2.1 miles east) and North Hertfordshire Museum (1.8 miles north). Not far away are Purwell Ninesprings and Markham's Hill.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in St Ibbs
Work on the roof can damage a membrane. Fixings, equipment and foot traffic can leave small holes.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Punctures from foot traffic or tools
If you let a flat or house near Hitchin station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
What to check before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether VAT is added on top
Leave it or get it looked at?
Testing a new membrane before it is covered is easier than tracing a leak later. Covered roofs are harder to test. For an older or listed building in a place like St Ibbs, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in St Ibbs
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Visits on any day of the week
- 98% customer satisfaction
- 20+ years’ experience
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.