Hertfordshire · London and the South East
The Flints Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes in The Flints, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Holes around roof penetrations
- Leaks through a covered membrane
How electronic leak detection works in The Flints
Electronic leak detection, or ELD, finds holes in flat roof waterproofing membranes. It uses a small electrical current which can only get through the membrane at a breach. It can find holes too small to spot by eye so your roofer knows exactly where to repair. The results come in a report with photos. We survey liquid-applied waterproofing, commercial flat roofs and flat roof membranes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp inside with no sign on the roof and punctures from foot traffic or tools.
Somewhere as small as The Flints, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- The Flints (SG5)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat roofs in The Flints
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Offley Endowed Primary School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. Landlords with a home close to Luton station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
The Flints is about 4 miles south-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. The Flints is one of many places we visit across Hertfordshire. The Flints is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work for electronic leak detection. We also survey roofs in Milton Keynes.
Surveys in SG5 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Close by, we survey roofs in Great Offley (1 mile east), Temple End (2 miles east) and Ley Green (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south), Stevenage (7 miles east), St Albans (12 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south-east), Harpenden (8 miles south) and Hitchin (4 miles north-east).
What’s near The Flints
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bull Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to The Flints is Luton station, roughly 4.1 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find Ravensburgh Castle (2.7 miles north-west) and John Dony Field Centre (2.9 miles south-west). Open spaces near The Flints include Markham's Hill and Pegsdon Hills.
Nearby places to The Flints
Also in The Flints
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Keep outlets clear of debris
- Limit access to the roof
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Note where leaks show inside and when
Once repairs are made, the roof can be tested again if you want to check them if the build-up allows.
ELD before paving, ballast or planting goes on is worth considering. It is easier to find holes before more layers are added.
Questions from The Flints
Do you carry out roof surveys in The Flints?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you come out to The Flints?
Yes, The Flints is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Can every flat roof be tested?
It depends on the membrane and the build-up. Tell us what you know about the roof and we’ll check whether ELD will work.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Can you find leaks on a covered flat roof?
Sometimes. The layers on top and the build-up below decide it, and some may need lifting. We’ll discuss it before we quote.
How long will testing take?
Testing usually takes longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Moisture spread under the membrane
- Sections we can’t safely access
- Build-ups without a suitable layer below
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Green roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Commercial flat roofs
Signs you need electronic leak detection in The Flints
A breach can be left during installation. Testing before the roof is covered or handed over helps find them.
Look out for signs like these:
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Damage from equipment installers
- Leaks through a flat roof with no obvious cause
- Patched roofs that still leak
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary Magdalene, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their insurance cover
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
What happens on the day
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit usually takes as long as needed for the size of the roof and how it’s built, which we’ll explain when we quote. Cottages and farmhouses around The Flints frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- The roof is assessed to see if electronic testing will work on it.
- The method depends on the membrane and what sits above and below it.
- The roof is tested and any breaches are located.
- The breaches are recorded with photographs in a report for your roofer.
Before we arrive
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Different roofs, different checks
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Testing a liquid-applied roof depends on what’s beneath the coating.
EPDM rubber roofs
Certain rubber membranes are conductive, which can rule out some methods. We’ll tell you if yours isn’t suitable.