Essex · London and the South East
Start Hill Electronic Leak Detection
Not sure what state the flat roof membrane is in? We carry out electronic leak detection in Start Hill and across Essex.
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- Damage from equipment installers
Flat roofs in Start Hill
In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Next to the main roofs there’s typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. About 2.8 miles south-east lies Barrington Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Start Hill has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Bishops Stortford station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. Anyone responsible for a site like Birchwood High School will know that a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Start Hill is about 2 miles east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. We carry out electronic leak detection in Start Hill for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Across Essex, we cover Start Hill. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Surveys in CM22 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets like Start Hill and Provenance Close, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Start Hill: Bedlar's Green (1 mile south), Takeley Street (2 miles east), Burton End (2 miles north), Takeley (2 miles east) and Smith's Green (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (15 miles south-east), Braintree (15 miles east), Harlow (8 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (11 miles north), Waltham Abbey (15 miles south-west) and Great Dunmow (6 miles east).
Around Start Hill
We work in homes and buildings around The Three Willows pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Bishops Stortford station, roughly 1.9 miles west. Well-known places in the area include House On The Hill Toy Museum (2.4 miles north) and Moated mound (4.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Portingbury Hills and Rushy Mead.
About our electronic leak detection in Start Hill
A leak in a flat roof frequently shows up a long way from where the water gets in. So the stain inside rarely sits under the hole. Electronic leak detection tests the membrane itself and locates the breach. It is testing only and leave the repair to your roofer. On suitable roofs, it replaces guesswork with a located breach. The results then follow in a written report with photos. If you’re worried about holes left by work on the roof and water coming in under a flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on liquid-applied waterproofing, roof terraces and balconies and single-ply roofs alike.
In a small place like Start Hill, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, typically 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.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Start Hill (CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
- Fixing the holes we find
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Start Hill. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Why get it checked now?
Water trapped under a membrane can soak insulation and decking. Locating it early helps limit the damage. Older and listed buildings around Start Hill may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
For a price for your roof in Start Hill, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Start Hill
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Photos and a written report every time
- Visits on any day of the week
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Places near Start Hill
More services for Start Hill
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take as long as needed for the membrane area and the build-up, which we’ll explain when we quote. Older roofs in small places like Start Hill can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- 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
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Tell us about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Use boards when working on the roof
- Check new waterproofing before handover
Where the evidence points to walls, copings or rooflights, we will note it, so other causes can be checked.
Act on leaks quickly. The longer water gets in, the more insulation and decking can be affected.
FAQs for Start Hill
Do you carry out roof surveys in Start Hill?
Yes, Start Hill is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details.
Will you come out to Start Hill?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
How do you choose the testing method?
The method is chosen to suit the roof. Low-voltage testing typically needs a wet surface and high-voltage methods need the membrane dry and exposed.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.