West Sussex · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in Thakeham
A careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Thakeham, with photographs and a written report.
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Leaks showing away from the breach
Electronic leak detection in Thakeham
Water can travel under a flat roof membrane before it shows inside. So the stain inside rarely sits under the hole. Electronic leak detection tests the membrane itself and locates the breach. We test and report and leave the repair to your roofer. On suitable roofs, it replaces guesswork with a located breach. We then send you the results in a written report. Common reasons to book are new membranes needing a check before handover and damage from equipment installers, across commercial flat roofs, single-ply roofs and liquid-applied waterproofing.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Thakeham 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. Exposed edges are normally the first part of a flat roof to go.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Thakeham (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Thakeham
Flat roof membranes can be punctured by foot traffic, dropped tools or debris. Some are too small to see, but still let water through.
We are often asked to look at:
- Damage from equipment installers
- Repairs that haven’t stopped the leak
- Failed seams and laps
- Stains far from any visible defect
Landlords with a home close to Pulborough station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What exactly goes into their report
- What the survey will not cover
Tips that help
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Let us know about the membrane and build-up if you know it
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
- Keep outlets clear of debris
File the report with your roof paperwork. It shows the condition of the membrane on that date.
Consider testing a new membrane before it’s covered. It is easier to find holes before more layers are added.
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. Most surveys take more time on a big roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Around Thakeham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know about the roof and where water is showing.
- We check whether the membrane and build-up suit ELD.
- The test method is chosen to suit the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- A report with photographs shows where each breach is.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Also near Thakeham
Also in Thakeham
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
- How wet the insulation is
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Green roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
Questions from Thakeham
Is Thakeham within the area you cover?
Yes, Thakeham is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Thakeham is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How does ELD work?
ELD passes a small electrical current across the roof to locate holes in the membrane. A breach lets the current through, which shows us where the hole is.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
How long does electronic leak detection take?
Testing usually takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too.
Different roofs, different checks
Bituminous membranes
Bitumen roofs can often be tested electronically though the layers below matter.
Single-ply membranes
Punctures from foot traffic and equipment are common on single-ply roofs. ELD can locate them.
Flat and commercial roofs around Thakeham
The wider area around Thakeham has a long history of building, with Parham House about 3.6 miles south-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Rydon Community College, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Thakeham is about 8 miles north of Worthing, in West Sussex. Whether the building in Thakeham is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Thakeham is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for electronic leak detection. Brighton is in our area too.
Surveys in RH20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include The Street, Bramble Lane and Cray's Lane, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Thakeham, we cover Abingworth (1 mile south-west), Warminghurst (1 mile south-east), Goose Green (1 mile north-east), West Chiltington (1 mile north-west) and Heath Common (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Crawley (15 miles north-east), Horsham (9 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (13 miles east) and Littlehampton (10 miles south-west).
Around Thakeham
The closest station to Thakeham is Pulborough station, about 4.1 miles west. A little further out are The Storrington And District Museum (2.2 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Knepp Wildland and Chanctonbury Hill.
What affects the cost of electronic leak detection
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- House, block, shop or office
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.