Essex · London and the South East
Electronic leak detection in Swallows Cross, Essex
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in Swallows Cross, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Leaks showing away from the breach
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
What happens on the day
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes a length of time set by the membrane area and the build-up, which we set out in the quote. Around Swallows Cross, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First, we confirm which roof areas are included.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- We mark the breach locations in our records.
- The report is sent for your roofer to act on.
Before the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
About our electronic leak detection in Swallows Cross
ELD finds breaches in the membrane but not every way water gets in. Leaks from walls, copings, rooflights or pipes need other checks. If the evidence points elsewhere, we will say so. The test shows breaches in the membrane, not water coming through masonry or around frames. Our report keeps that distinction clear. You will also know what to check next. We survey green roofs, commercial flat roofs and single-ply roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are damage from equipment installers and damp inside with no sign on the roof.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Swallows Cross take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, usually 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the flat roof membrane, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Swallows Cross (CM15)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Some breaches are too small to see. Electronic testing can find breaches you cannot see by eye, on suitable membranes. Older cottages and farmhouses around Swallows Cross can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Swallows Cross
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
FAQs for Swallows Cross
Is Swallows Cross in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Swallows Cross as anywhere else.
Is Swallows Cross within the area you cover?
Yes, Swallows Cross is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
In some cases. It depends on the build-up and the layers above the membrane and parts may need to be lifted. We will discuss it before we quote.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as 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 is disturbed.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Swallows Cross
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Nearby places to Swallows Cross
More services for Swallows Cross
When you need someone else
It’s useful to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- Areas we cannot reach or that can’t be tested
- Repairing the breaches (that’s for your roofer)
- Leaks from plumbing or windows
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
What we look for on each type of roof
Inverted and paved roofs
If the build-up rules out ELD, we will say so.
Single-ply membranes
Many offices and units have single-ply roofs. Laps and fixings are where holes frequently appear.
Local flat roofs in Swallows Cross
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Historic houses like Ingatestone Hall, about 2.5 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Swallows Cross goes. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Ingatestone station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. Anyone responsible for a site like Shenfield High School will know that a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Swallows Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Brentwood, in Essex. We carry out electronic leak detection in Swallows Cross for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Essex. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Every address in CM15 is covered for electronic leak detection. Whether your property is on Thoby Lane and Wyatt's Green Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. If you are just outside Swallows Cross, we cover Wyatt's Green (1 mile north-west), Green Street (1 mile north-east), Mountnessing (1 mile south-east), Doddinghurst (1 mile west) and Beggar Hill (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (8 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles south-east), Harlow (12 miles north-west), Brentwood (3 miles south-west), Canvey Island (15 miles south-east) and Billericay (5 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Swallows Cross
Swallows Cross’s nearest station is Ingatestone station, roughly 2.3 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Brentwood Community Hospital (2.9 miles south). Open spaces near Swallows Cross include Thorndon Park.