Essex · London and the South East
Tollesbury Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection in Tollesbury, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gaps at membrane joints
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
Electronic leak detection in Tollesbury
ELD is a way of pinpointing breaches in a flat roof’s waterproofing membrane. It works with an electrical current which can only get through the membrane at a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see so your roofer knows exactly where to repair. You get a written report with photos of each breach found. If you’ve noticed stains far from any visible defect and breaches hidden under paving or planting, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Tollesbury, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, frequently around 15–20 years in life, 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. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Where
- Tollesbury (CM9)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Bituminous membranes
ELD is often possible on bituminous membranes though the layers below matter.
Green and ballasted roofs
Roofs with planting or ballast hide the membrane. Some methods can work through these layers, depending on the build-up.
Also near Tollesbury
Also in Tollesbury
What affects the cost of electronic leak detection
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- Anything about access we should know
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Tollesbury
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey usually takes a time that depends on the membrane area and the build-up, which we’ll explain when we quote. In a hamlet or village like Tollesbury, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
For a price for electronic leak detection in Tollesbury, call 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Common questions in Tollesbury
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Tollesbury?
Frequently, yes. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Tollesbury is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Is my home in Tollesbury listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
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 so we can pinpoint it.
How much time does ELD need?
It depends on the size of the roof and its build-up. You will know roughly how long before we start.
Will you check the loft?
Normally, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
Sometimes. It depends on the build-up and the layers above the membrane and parts may need to be lifted. We’ll discuss it before we quote.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when you book.
What electronic leak detection doesn’t cover
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Carrying out the repair work
- Leaks from walls, copings or rooflights
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Electronic leak detection in Tollesbury: local notes
Tollesbury lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. About 4.8 miles north lies Layer Marney Tower, a reminder of how long the area around Tollesbury has been built on. 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.
If you look after a building such as Tollesbury School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Tollesbury is about 7 miles east of Maldon, in Essex. Wherever you are in Tollesbury, we can carry out electronic leak detection at your property. We cover towns and villages across Essex. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for electronic leak detection: CM9. Streets in the area include Station Road, High Street and East Street, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Virley (2 miles north), Salcott-cum-Virley (2 miles north), St Lawrence Bay (3 miles south), Ramsey Island (3 miles south) and Bradwell Waterside (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (9 miles north), Chelmsford (15 miles west), Braintree (15 miles north-west), Clacton-on-Sea (14 miles east), Maldon (7 miles west) and Rayleigh (15 miles south-west).
What’s near Tollesbury
In Tollesbury, that means homes and buildings near The King's Head Public House and the streets around them. A little further out are Maldon & District Agricultural & Domestic Museum (3.4 miles west). Not far away are Tollesbury Wick.
Why it is worth a survey now in Tollesbury
Patching where you think the leak is frequently misses it. Testing shows where the membrane is actually breached. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
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.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Tollesbury
- 20+ years’ experience
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 98% of customers satisfied
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.