Roof and Plumbing Leak Detection in Melbourne
Water rarely shows up where it gets in. A stain in the kitchen can start at a flashing metres away, a balcony, an air-conditioning drain or a blocked stormwater pipe three floors up. We find the real source, roof or plumbing, fix it and prove it, across Melbourne and towns within about a 2-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. Roof leaks come from flashings, penetrations, tiles, valleys, skylights and box gutters. Plumbing leaks come from stormwater drains, air-conditioning condensate drains, balconies, showers and fittings. Plenty of leaks are blamed on one when it’s the other.
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
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, box gutters and, if water is pouring in now, emergency plumbing or 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.
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 Melbourne leak detection jobs
- South Yarra: water showing up three floors below the top unit of an apartment block, traced to a blocked or defective stormwater drain. Three repair scenarios from about $2,000 to $15,000.
- Travancore: forensic testing in a strata building found a cracked or disconnected air-conditioning condensate drain, a separate cause from the balcony membrane failure found earlier.
- Eumemmerring: water and dye testing traced a kitchen ceiling leak to the flashing around air-conditioning pipework, screwed down without sealing washers.
- Brunswick (heritage church): five stand-alone options, from a $900 dye test to a $12,600 ridge and valley repair.
- Mill Park: a leak near two skylights after a previous roofer’s fix failed. Dye testing first, then targeted repairs: $2,405, $3,185 or $4,225.
- Doncaster: a bedroom ceiling fell under a ponding balcony. Moisture and thermal scanning, dye testing, membrane repair and evidence for a builder warranty claim.
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.
ReportLeak at AC pipework flashing · Eumemmerring VIC
Leak findings report from Eumemmerring. Water and dye testing traced a kitchen ceiling leak to the flashing around the air-conditioning pipework. The screws had been installed without sealing washers, and there were extra unsealed holes. It’s a short, clear example of how dye testing finds the exact cause instead of guessing.
- Quote
Heritage steep roof leak · Brunswick VIC
Plain-English, five-option quote for a steep 45-degree heritage church roof in Brunswick, where water was tracking through the cavity and dripping from a light fitting. It explains what we saw on the roof and why it matters, then offers stand-alone options from a $900 dye test to a $12,600 ridge and valley repair, planned around a quiet therapy space.
- Quote
Leak repair at old/new roof junction, valleys · Glen Iris VIC
Job completion statement for a Californian bungalow in Glen Iris with a two-storey extension. During big storms, water was getting in where the old and new roof sections meet, through clogged valley flashings and a broken tile. The statement records the repair we completed, the evidence behind it, and further options for the rest of the roof.
- Pre-arrival estimate
Dye leak detection & skylight/box gutter repair · Mill Park VIC
Dye-testing and repair quote for a two-storey tiled townhouse in Mill Park with an ongoing leak near two skylights. We prepared it before attending, from the property manager’s photos and an earlier roofer’s quote. We first dye-test to find the exact entry point, then fix the skylight flashings, tiles and box gutter junction. Options are $2,405, $3,185 and $4,225.
- Pre-arrival estimate
Balcony waterproofing leak + ceiling restoration · Doncaster VIC
Quote for a balcony waterproofing leak in Doncaster, where the master bedroom ceiling below a ponding balcony cracked and fell after heavy rain. Prepared before attending from the owner’s photos, it covers moisture and thermal scanning, dye testing, membrane repair and ceiling restoration, plus evidence for a builder warranty claim on the near-new home.
- Insurance
Air-con condensate leak vs balcony membrane · Travancore VIC
Forensic leak investigation for a strata apartment building in Travancore. Water kept dripping into two units on hot days. Our testing found a new, separate cause: a cracked or disconnected air-conditioning condensate drain in the unit above, which is different from the balcony membrane failure found earlier. This helped the owners corporation direct the repair and the claim correctly.
- Report
Stormwater drain leak · South Yarra VIC
Roof plumbing assessment for a leaking multi-storey apartment in South Yarra. Water was showing up three floors below the top unit, and we traced it to a blocked or defective stormwater drain. The report explains the regulations and sets out three repair scenarios, from about $2,000 to $15,000, with the pros, cons and risks of each so the owner could choose.
Areas we cover
We cover all of Melbourne, plus the towns within about a 2-hour drive of the city:
- Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast: Geelong, Lara, Ocean Grove, Queenscliff, Torquay, Anglesea and Colac
- Mornington Peninsula: Frankston, Mornington, Rosebud and Sorrento
- West and Ballarat: Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Ballarat
- Macedon Ranges and Goldfields: Sunbury, Gisborne, Woodend, Kyneton, Daylesford, Castlemaine and Bendigo
- North: Wallan, Kilmore, Seymour and Euroa
- Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges: Lilydale, Yarra Glen, Healesville, Warburton, Kinglake and Marysville
- West Gippsland and Latrobe Valley: Pakenham, Drouin, Warragul, Moe, Morwell and Traralgon
- Bass Coast and South Gippsland: Phillip Island, San Remo, Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Leongatha
Not sure if your town is in range? Call 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244 and ask.
Why Holy Mess Repairs
- Licensed roof plumbers. Victorian licence 32176, on the Victorian Building and Plumbing Commission register.
- Insured through BizCover.
- Around 4.4 stars from 120+ Google reviews.
- Photos of everything. You see the problem before we fix it and the result after.
- Prices before we start. You choose the option.
- Warranty that matches the work.
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.
Melbourne 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. Stains under balconies, near air-conditioners or below other units can be either. We’re roofers and plumbers, so we test both.
Why do you test before you fix?
So you don’t pay to fix the wrong thing. Our Travancore and Eumemmerring jobs both found a different cause than the one first assumed.
Can you give me a report for my insurer or builder?
Yes. We document the cause with photos and testing. Whether a claim is accepted is up to the insurer or builder.
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 and insured?
Yes. We hold Victorian licence 32176 and we’re insured through BizCover.
Do you cover my town?
Yes, if you’re in Melbourne or within about a 2-hour drive. That includes Geelong, the Bellarine, Torquay, the Mornington Peninsula, Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Kyneton and the Macedon Ranges, Seymour, the Yarra Valley, Healesville, Warburton, Warragul, Traralgon, Phillip Island, Wonthaggi and Colac. Not sure? Call 03 8583 2640 and ask.
Can I see your work before I book?
Yes. Visit our Reservoir showroom and warehouse at Unit 10, 236–244 Edwards Road, Reservoir VIC. It’s open 6am to 6pm, 7 days. Call ahead and we’ll make sure the right person is there.
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
Visit our Reservoir showroom and warehouse: Unit 10, 236–244 Edwards Road, Reservoir VIC 3073. It’s our working base. Crews load materials there, our equipment and machinery are stored there, and the office is upstairs. There’s also a separate showroom where you can see examples of our roofing, plumbing and renovation work and meet the team. Open 6am to 6pm, 7 days. No booking needed, but call ahead and we’ll make sure the right person is there to meet you.
Holy Mess Repairs · 19 Chivers Rd, Templestowe VIC 3106 · Showroom and warehouse (call ahead): Unit 10, 236–244 Edwards Road, Reservoir VIC 3073 · Serving Melbourne and towns within about 2 hours