Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Westdene Electronic Leak Detection
A careful look at the flat roof membrane at your property in Westdene, with photos and a written report.
- Water coming in under a flat roof
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks through a covered membrane
Electronic leak detection in Westdene: what you get
Electronic leak detection, or ELD, finds holes in flat roof waterproofing membranes. It works with an electrical current that passes through the membrane only where there’s a breach. That lets us locate holes that are too small to see, so your roofer can repair them. You get a report with photos of each breach found. We are often asked to look into leaks showing away from the breach and breaches hidden under paving or planting, across roof terraces and balconies, liquid-applied waterproofing and flat roof membranes.
Around a smaller place like Westdene, flat roofs normally cover extensions, garages and dormers. They’re small, but a leak over a kitchen extension can do a lot of harm. Knowing the covering and how it was laid tells you what to expect from it, from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber and GRP. Ponding, splits and lifting edges are the signs to look for from a window.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof membrane on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Where
- Westdene (BN1, BN3)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Height and safe access
- Roof area
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, because the method depends on the roof.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Common questions in Westdene
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Westdene, take more of a battering?
It can do. Within about 3 miles of the sea, as Westdene is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Westdene?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
On some roofs, yes. Covered roofs limit the methods we can use, so we check the build-up first.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
What we’re asked to look at in Westdene
Work on the roof can damage a membrane. Engineers fitting equipment, solar panels or aerials may leave damage behind.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Leaks that return after repairs
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
- Failed seams and laps
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
If you own a rental within reach of Preston Park station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Nearby places to Westdene
Other services in Westdene
What electronic leak detection doesn’t cover
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Sections we cannot safely access
- Moisture spread under the membrane
- Water entering through details rather than the membrane
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Green roofs
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Single-ply roofs
- Flat roof membranes
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
Landlord and commercial surveys in Westdene
Landlords, agents and building managers in Westdene and across Brighton and Hove can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Electronic leak detection around Westdene
Westdene lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. Historic houses such as Preston Manor & Gardens, about 1.3 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Westdene goes. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Westdene Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. Take an older house close to Church of the Ascension: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Westdene is about 2 miles north-east of Brighton and Hove, in Brighton and Hove. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Westdene can all book electronic leak detection, with a written report and photographs every time. Westdene is one of the places in Brighton and Hove we cover.
Surveys in BN1 and BN3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Mill Road, Croft Road and London Road and the roads around them. Westdene is on the A27, so it is easy for us to get to. Other places close to Westdene include Patcham (1 mile north-east), Withdean (1 mile south-east), Waterhall (1 mile north), Preston (1 mile south-east) and West Blatchington (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Carlton Hill (3 miles south-east), Hanover (3 miles south-east), Kemptown (3 miles south-east), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east), Bevendean (3 miles south-east) and Saltdean (7 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Westdene
Typical jobs here are in homes near Varndean College, Withdean and Westdene Woods and The Sportsman pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Westdene is Preston Park station, roughly 1 mile south. Other landmarks nearby include Clayton Castle (3.5 miles north) and British Engineerium (1.2 miles south-west). Not far away are Ladies Mile and Wolstonbury Hill.
How the survey changes by roof type
Bituminous membranes
Bituminous felt and modified bitumen membranes are common. The build-up decides which method will work.
Inverted and paved roofs
On inverted roofs, insulation sits above the membrane and that changes how testing works.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes more time on a big roof than a small one, and the build-up of the roof makes a difference too. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Homes around Westdene often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- We check whether the membrane and build-up suit ELD.
- We choose a low-voltage or high-voltage method to match the roof.
- We test the roof and locate any breaches.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.