Essex · London and the South East
Electronic Leak Detection in The Common
We take a careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in The Common, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Leaks showing away from the breach
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Holes around roof penetrations
Tips from our surveys
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Keep foot traffic on flat roofs to a minimum
- Share any drawings of the roof
- Get leaks traced quickly
- Avoid repeated repairs without finding the cause
File the report with your roof paperwork. It’s a dated record of the membrane’s condition.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It’s easier to find holes before more layers are added.
How electronic leak detection works in The Common
ELD is a way of pinpointing breaches in a flat roof’s waterproofing membrane. It works with an electrical current that passes through the membrane only where there is a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see, so your roofer can repair them. The results come in a report with photos. We survey green roofs, roof terraces and balconies and liquid-applied waterproofing, and common reasons people get in touch are gaps at membrane joints and leaks under green or ballasted roofs.
Some older homes in villages like The Common are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
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
- The Common (CB10)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price electronic leak detection
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The roof’s overall size
Every price we give includes VAT. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
For a price for electronic leak detection in The Common, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Surveys for landlords and agents in The Common
Letting agents and landlords in The Common book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the flat roof membrane.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Electronic leak detection in The Common: local notes
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
Take a building like Radwinter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School: a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
The Common is about 4 miles east of Saffron Walden, in Essex. Wherever you are in The Common, we can carry out electronic leak detection at your property. We cover towns and villages across Essex. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Postcode districts we cover here for electronic leak detection: CB10. Other places close to The Common include Radwinter (1 mile south), Maple End (1 mile south-west), Wimbish (2 miles south-west), Hempstead (2 miles east) and Church End (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Braintree (13 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (4 miles west), Halstead (14 miles south-east), Great Dunmow (10 miles south), Stansted Mountfitchet (10 miles south-west) and Great Notley (14 miles south-east).
Landmarks near The Common
Nearby you will also find Castle Camps (2.8 miles north-east) and Saffron Walden Community Hospital (3.5 miles west). Open spaces near The Common include Hales and Shadwell Woods.
FAQs for The Common
Is The Common within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
How do I find out if my home in The Common is listed?
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.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when you book.
Can you test a green or ballasted roof?
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.
How do I arrange electronic leak detection in The Common?
To book, call 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 do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
When you need someone else
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Roofs whose membrane or build-up is not suitable
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
- Sections we can’t safely access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Single-ply roofs
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take a time that depends on the membrane area and the build-up, which we set out in the quote. Rural addresses near The Common can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- 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
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.