Reading · London and the South East
Trench Green Electronic Leak Detection
We carry out electronic leak detection in Trench Green and the rest of Reading. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Damage from equipment installers
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
Electronic leak detection for homes and businesses in Trench Green
ELD suits many waterproofing membranes on flat roofs, on homes, blocks and commercial buildings. It can be used to trace an existing leak or to test a new membrane before it is covered. We quote for each roof based on its size and build-up. We can test on weekdays and at weekends when conditions allow. Just ask about your roof. If you’ve noticed water coming in under a flat roof and leaking laps in the waterproofing, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on roof terraces and balconies, commercial flat roofs and single-ply roofs alike.
Some older homes in villages like Trench Green are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
The report records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Trench Green (RG4)
- Region
- Reading
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat roofs in Trench Green
Mapledurham House, about 1.1 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Trench Green. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Broad Street Mall, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after. For landlords with property near Tilehurst station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Trench Green is about 2 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. Trench Green is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Reading, large and small.
We cover every part of RG4 for electronic leak detection. We also cover the places around Trench Green: Chazey Heath (1 mile east), Mapledurham (1 mile south-west), Purley on Thames (2 miles south-west), Norcot (2 miles south) and Tilehurst (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover West Reading (3 miles south), Shinfield (7 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (9 miles south-east), Horncastle (3 miles south), Whitley Wood (6 miles south-east) and Fords Farm (4 miles south).
Local landmarks in Trench Green
Around Trench Green, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Pack Horse Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Trench Green is Tilehurst station, roughly 1.7 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (2.6 miles south) and Battle Hospital (2.6 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Moor Copse Nature Reserve and Sonning Hill.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Clear flat roof outlets regularly
- Find the breach before more patching
- Note where leaks show inside and when
- Ask contractors to protect the membrane
If water has been getting in, insulation under the membrane may be wet. That’s something to discuss with your roofer, and moisture readings can help.
Don’t leave a flat roof leak running. The longer water gets in, the more insulation and decking can be affected.
Questions from Trench Green
How do I find out if my home in Trench Green is listed?
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.
Will you come out to Trench Green?
Yes, Trench Green is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not usually stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
How does ELD work?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there is a hole, it passes through. That’s how we locate breaches you cannot see.
How do you choose the testing method?
The method is chosen to suit the roof. Low-voltage testing typically needs a wet surface, while high-voltage testing needs a dry, exposed membrane.
Can every flat roof be tested?
That depends on the roof’s membrane and layers. Share any details you have and we will check whether ELD will work.
Places near Trench Green
What else we do in Trench Green
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we check:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How big the roof is
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Roof by roof
EPDM rubber roofs
Some EPDM membranes conduct electricity, which can rule out some methods. We’ll say if the test won’t work.
Green and ballasted roofs
Parts of the covering may have to come up. We discuss this before quoting.
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Trench Green
Joints and laps in a membrane can fail over time. A gap that’s hard to see can let water in for months before it shows.
Common reasons to book include:
- Failed seams and laps
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks under green or ballasted roofs
- Holes left by work on the roof
If you live in an older home near Church of St Margaret and Bardolf Aisle, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- When you’ll get the report
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- How wet the insulation is
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
- Repairing the breaches (that is for your roofer)
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof membranes
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Single-ply roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Green roofs
How it works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take longer on a large roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. Somewhere as small as Trench Green, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We agree the area to be tested.
- We get the roof ready for testing.
- We work across the roof with the test equipment.
- Each breach found is located and recorded.
- You receive the results to pass to your roofer.
Before the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.