Roof and Plumbing Leak Detection in Canberra
Water rarely shows up where it gets in. We find the real source, whether it’s a flashing, a cracked tile, an evaporative cooler, a balcony or a drain, then fix it and prove it, across Canberra, Queanbeyan and towns within about a 1-hour drive.
Call us: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244
Roof leaks and plumbing leaks
I’m Victor from Holy Mess Repairs. We’re roofers and plumbers, so we look at both. In Canberra we often find leaks at roof-to-wall flashings, cracked tiles under flashings, around evaporative coolers and ducts, and in gutters and valleys packed with leaves.
Dye testing: our best method, and what we’re known for
Dye testing is our premium leak detection method, and it’s what sets us apart. We test one area at a time with coloured dye and water until the dye shows up inside, so we can prove exactly where the water gets in before anyone pays for a repair. Other trades and property managers call us when they need a leak found this way.
How we find leaks
- Dye testing and water testing, one area at a time, to prove exactly where water gets in: see dye testing
- Moisture and thermal scanning to map where the water has travelled
- Pressure testing of water pipes to confirm whether they’re losing pressure, and which section is leaking
- Acoustic leak detection to listen for escaping water in pipes under floors, slabs and walls
- CCTV drain camera inspection to look inside stormwater and sewer drains for cracks, root intrusion and broken joints
- Tracer gas detection: we fill a water pipe with a safe tracer gas and detect where it escapes, to pinpoint leaks that are hard to find
- On the roof and in the roof space: flashings, penetrations, screws, tiles, valleys and gutters
- Drains and fittings: stormwater, condensate drains, balconies and wet areas
- Evidence-based quotes from your photos: for our Curtin job we priced the repair before attending, from the homeowner’s photos and video and the insurer’s report
How much does leak detection cost?
We don’t publish a price list, because no two roofs are the same. Call for a free phone estimate, or send photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244. Before anyone comes out, we send you a written document listing the likely scenarios, what each one costs, the quality of work and the warranty. The real figures below come from our own published quotes and reports.
Related: roof repairs, waterproofing, blocked drains, skylights and, if water is pouring in now, emergency roof repairs.
Who does the work
I’m Victor (Varun) Chandra, the founder of Holy Mess Repairs (read about me). I hold a Certificate III in Plumbing (CPC32413), a Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing (CPC31411), so I’m qualified in waterproofing, and a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40110). From 2012 to 2015 I was a site manager on NSW Land & Housing programs.
Calls and texts to 0426 204 244 go straight to a real roofer or plumber, not a call centre.
Fully licensed in Canberra: every job is done by fully licensed tradespeople, and you get a compliance certificate every time.
How it works
- Tell us where the water shows up. Photos and videos of the stain, drip or damp patch, on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244.
- Free phone estimate. Often we can narrow it down from your photos before we come out.
- Written scenarios first. What testing is needed, what the likely fixes cost, the quality of work and the warranty.
- We find the source. Dye testing, water testing, moisture and thermal scanning, pressure testing, acoustic leak detection, drain camera inspection and tracer gas, depending on the leak.
- Fix, test and report. We fix the cause, test again and send photos, plus a report for your insurer if you need one.
Real Canberra leak detection jobs
- Nicholls: water in a ground-floor bathroom. A same-day forensic inspection confirmed 2.8 metres of badly deteriorated lead flashing where the upper roof meets the wall. We made it safe on the day, then reported permanent repair options for the insurer.
- Amaroo: water marks in the lounge, dining and living areas, traced to cracked and displaced tiles under the flashing and around the evaporative cooler, with options from about $200 to $25,000.
- Curtin: likely flashing defects identified from the homeowner’s photos and the insurer’s report, with repair items from about $1,045 to $2,090 and dye testing to confirm the cause.
- Chisholm: an insurance scope of works for tile roof leaks, with options from about $2,000 to $25,000.
Real quotes and reports from our jobs
These are real quotes and reports we sent to customers, published with their permission. Names, street addresses, contact details and claim numbers are blacked out. Click a page to open the full PDF.
InsuranceSame-day forensic inspection and make-safe report from Nicholls, Canberra. Water was getting into a ground-floor bathroom, and we confirmed the source as badly deteriorated lead flashing where the first-floor roof meets the wall. We installed a temporary make-safe on the day and documented everything with before, during and after photos and video.
- Insurance
Lead flashing replacement options · Nicholls ACT
Permanent repair options report that follows our make-safe visit in Nicholls, Canberra. It confirms a 2.8 metre section of failed lead flashing at the roof-to-wall junction as the cause of the water getting in, gives the measurements, and compares permanent flashing replacement options with their risks so the insurer could approve the right fix.
- Pre-arrival estimate
Roof water-ingress repair · Curtin ACT
Insurance repair quote for a roof leak in Curtin, Canberra, prepared before attending from the homeowner’s photos and video and the insurer’s assessment report. We reviewed the evidence, identified likely flashing defects, and priced the repairs with dye testing to confirm the cause. It shows how we can give a quick, evidence-based quote without a first site visit.
- Report
Roof repair scope for insurance builder · Chisholm ACT
Scope-of-works report for an insurance-managed roof repair in Chisholm, Canberra. After a site visit we documented the tile roof leaks, wrote a detailed scope, and priced several repair options from about $2,000 to $25,000. Insurers, builders and homeowners get the same clear, impartial information, whichever option they choose.
- Report
Roof leak report for a townhouse in Amaroo, Canberra, where water marks were showing in the lounge, dining and living areas. We traced the leaks to cracked and displaced tiles under the flashing and around the evaporative cooler and its ducts. The report explains each cause and gives repair options from small targeted fixes to larger works.
Areas we cover
We cover all of Canberra and the ACT, plus the towns within about an hour’s drive of the city, including the NSW towns around Canberra. Our Canberra base is at 4/9 Dines Place, Bruce ACT 2617.
Towns we cover include:
- Queanbeyan and the south: Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Googong, Michelago and Bredbo
- North and Yass Valley: Hall, Sutton, Gundaroo, Murrumbateman, Yass and Binalong
- East: Bungendore, Captains Flat, Tarago and Braidwood
- Federal Highway: Collector, Gunning and Goulburn
Not sure if your town is in range? Call 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244 and ask.
Why Holy Mess Repairs
- Fully licensed in Canberra. Every job is done by fully licensed tradespeople, with a compliance certificate for the work every time. Insured through BizCover.
- Around 4.4 stars from 120+ Google reviews.
- Honest about the cause, and about what it will cost.
- Options with prices, so you can choose.
- Photos before and after, every job.
HOLYMESS PTY LTD · ABN 31 666 327 813
How we quote
Call or email us and I’ll give you a free estimate over the phone. There’s no fee for the estimate. Once you’re happy with it, we send you a written document that explains what to expect, the likely scenarios and what each one costs, plus the quality of work and the warranty. That way you know exactly what you’re getting before we arrive.
Send us photos and videos on WhatsApp: 0426 204 244. Send as many as you can. The more we see, the more accurate the estimate.
Canberra leak detection FAQs
What is your best leak detection method?
Dye testing. It proves exactly where the water gets in, and it’s what we’re known for. See our dye testing service.
How do you find leaks in water pipes?
We use pressure testing to confirm a pipe is leaking, acoustic leak detection to listen for the escaping water, and tracer gas detection, where we fill the pipe with a safe tracer gas and find where it comes out. For drains, we use a CCTV drain camera to see inside.
Is it a roof leak or a plumbing leak?
Often you can’t tell from inside. We’re roofers and plumbers, so we test both.
Can you quote from photos?
Often, yes. Send photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244 and we’ll give you a free phone estimate, then the written scenarios before anyone comes out.
Can you give me a report for my insurer?
Yes, including make-safe reports and permanent repair options. Whether a claim is accepted is up to the insurer.
Water is pouring in now. What should I do?
Call 0426 204 244. That goes straight to a real roofer or plumber, not a call centre, and we’ll make it safe first.
Are you licensed in the ACT and NSW?
Yes. Every job in Canberra and the surrounding NSW towns is done by fully licensed tradespeople, and you get a compliance certificate for the work every time. We’re insured through BizCover.
Do you cover my town?
Yes, if you’re in Canberra, the ACT or a town within about an hour’s drive, including the NSW towns around Canberra. That includes Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Googong, Hall, Sutton, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo, Yass, Bungendore, Braidwood, Michelago, Collector, Gunning and Goulburn. Not sure? Call 0426 204 244 and ask.
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Call or email us and we’ll give you a free estimate over the phone, with no fee for the estimate. Send photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244 and we’ll follow up with a written document setting out the likely scenarios, the cost of each and the warranty.
Find the leak, then fix it
Send us photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244, or call for a free phone estimate.
Call Victor and the team: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244
Holy Mess Repairs · Canberra base: 4/9 Dines Place, Bruce ACT 2617 · Main office: 19 Chivers Rd, Templestowe VIC 3106 · Serving Canberra, Queanbeyan and towns within about an hour