Leak Detection & Building Diagnostics, Auckland
Aries Builders – Investigation. Clarity. Solutions.
water ingress investigation — find the real cause, fix it once.
Aries Builders is an Auckland leak detection and building diagnostics specialist, established in 1988.
We find hidden water leaks, diagnose moisture problems, and produce insurance-ready investigation reports and scopes of work. We are Licensed Building Practitioners who have physically pulled apart failed buildings for over 30 years — we diagnose from evidence, not guesswork.
Book a free site visit
The site visit is free. Full stop.
We'll come and have a look at your problem at no cost. We walk through the issue with you on site, tell you what we think is going on, and give you our honest advice on what it needs. No charge, no obligation.
From there, one of three things usually happens:
If it's a straightforward fix — we give you a scope of work and a quote to carry out the repair. The scope and quote are free; you only pay if you choose to go ahead with the job.
If you want it documented — for your insurer, your records, a pre-purchase decision, or another builder — our written investigation reports start from $300–$500 + GST. See pricing below.
If it's a bigger problem, or there are multiple issues — we'll recommend the right level of report and work up from there, depending on how much investigation the job actually needs. You'll always know the cost before we start writing.
Pricing only starts when a written report begins, or when you accept a quote for repair work.
What we do
We provide specialist leak detection, building diagnostics, and detailed scopes of work for:
Hidden water leak detection — walls, ceilings, floors, decks, and joinery
Moisture investigations and moisture mapping
Leaky home problem solving and failed-repair diagnosis
Flood and water damage assessments
Insurance scopes of work and second opinions on insurer scopes
Water ingress and moisture checks
Complex building problem-solving
Our work is the right fit when you don't know where water is coming from, when previous repairs haven't worked, when you need clarity before spending money, or when you want a proper plan before starting work.
Recent investigations — how we found what others missed
The leak that wasn't in the wall — capillary action diagnosis
The symptom pointed everywhere except the true source. Moisture readings and methodical elimination traced the water to capillary action — water travelling through materials against the obvious direction of flow. The repair targeted the actual entry point rather than the wet patch, ending a problem that patch repairs would never have solved. → Read the full investigation on our blog
A failed hot water cylinder
filled this home with steam, causing widespread hidden moisture damage. See how Aries Builders found the unusual source, dried the property, and restored the affected areas.
When a seed pod becomes a major leak
A small seed pod damaged a roof tile without anyone noticing. Months later, heavy rain exposed the problem, sending water through the ceiling and saturating the insulation and plasterboard. See how Aries Builders uncovered the hidden cause and made the home safe.
Every investigation follows the same method: observe and measure before prescribing. Rule causes out before committing. Document everything.
Our approach — practical, forensic-style investigation
We approach every job like a building investigation. Not as surveyors or engineers — but as experienced Licensed Building Practitioners who have stripped back and rebuilt buildings, seen failures first-hand, and understand how things actually go wrong.
We trace water paths and entry points, take calibrated moisture readings, use thermal imaging where required, open up small areas where needed to confirm causes, assess construction methods and failures, and identify risks like mould, decay, and structural damage. Then we put it all together into a clear, structured report.
Our process
Free site visit & initial assessment — we attend site, go through all known issues with you, and give you our honest read on what's happening. No cost, no obligation.
Investigation & testing — moisture readings, thermal imaging where required, water ingress tracking, physical inspection and, where necessary, invasive checks.
Detailed investigation report — findings and root causes, annotated photos and supporting evidence, a clear explanation of what's happening, and the risks and likely consequences.
Scope of work / repair strategy — what needs to be done, the correct repair method, materials and approach. Written to a standard insurers, architects, and other builders can price and work from.
Next steps & specialist input — if your project needs a structural engineer, architect, or council involvement, we identify that, talk it through with you, and bring the right person in.
Indicative pricing
Every job starts with a free site visit — the pricing below only applies once you ask for a written report. Simple repairs are quoted free after the visit. Most homes that need a report fall into the first two tiers. All reports are written to a standard insurers, architects, and other builders can work from.
Initial written summary — $300–$500 + GST A short written summary of our site visit, with photographs and descriptions of what we found. Enough to put on record whether there is a real problem, and what it is likely to be.
If we carry out the repair, this cost is credited back against the job.
Standard investigation report — $800–$2,500 + GST A full written report with thermal imaging, moisture testing and mapping, annotated photographs, and our findings on where the water is actually getting in. Written so it can be handed straight to an insurer, or another builder.
Detailed diagnostic report with full scope — $1,500–$4,000 + GST Everything above, plus a scope of works detailed enough to build from and price against.
Complex, staged, or disputed — $4,000–$6,000 + GST Multiple site visits, coordination with other trades to isolate the cause, and documentation prepared to the standard required for disputes or formal claims.
If we carry out the repair, the full cost of the report is credited back against the job. This applies to the first three tiers. Complex, staged, and dispute work is charged separately, as it is not always followed by a repair.
What a report is, and what it is not
An investigation report tells you what is wrong, what is causing it, and what needs to be done about it. It is not a fixed quote for the repair.
Water damage hides. Once cladding, linings, or flooring are opened up, the extent of the damage is often greater than what could be seen from the outside. Where that happens we stop, tell you what we have found, and agree the next step with you before carrying on. Additional work found this way is priced separately. We would rather have that conversation with you than guess at a number and be wrong.
Our reports are not templates. Each one is the result of site time, moisture and thermal testing, conversations with other trades, and a written scope that takes several hours to prepare properly. The report is prepared for you and your property, for use with your insurer, architect, or engineer. It remains our work, and it is not to be used to have the work carried out by another contractor without our agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How do you find a hidden water leak or the source of moisture? We trace the water back to where it's actually getting in, rather than guessing — calibrated moisture readings, thermal imaging where needed, tracking water paths and entry points, and opening up small areas to confirm the cause. Water often travels a long way from its entry point before it shows, so the wet patch you can see is frequently not where the leak is. You get a clear explanation of what's happening, not just a patch over the symptom.
How much does leak detection cost in Auckland? The site visit itself is free — we come out, have a look, and tell you what we think at no charge. If it's a simple fix, the scope and quote are free too, and you only pay for the repair. If you need it in writing, a short written summary is $300–$500 + GST, a standard investigation report with thermal imaging and moisture mapping is $800–$2,500 + GST, a detailed report with a full scope of works is $1,500–$4,000 + GST, and complex, staged, or disputed matters run $4,000–$6,000 + GST. If we carry out the repair, the report cost is credited back against the job.
Do you offer a free site visit? Yes — every job starts with one. We come to your property, look at the problem, and give you our honest advice at no cost and with no obligation. If it's a simple fix we'll give you a free scope and quote for the repair. Costs only start if you ask for a written investigation report, or when you accept a quote for repair work.
What equipment do you use for moisture testing? We use professional-grade moisture meters, including the Trotec T660, alongside thermal imaging cameras. Different tools answer different questions — surface moisture, moisture within materials, and temperature differentials that reveal hidden water paths — so we select the right method for each situation rather than relying on a single reading.
Do I need to find an engineer or architect myself, or do you handle that? We handle it. Think of us a bit like going to your GP — you come to us with the problem, we investigate and work out what's actually wrong, and then we bring in the right specialist if one's needed. We're upfront about the limits of our scope: where something genuinely needs an engineer or architect rather than a Licensed Building Practitioner, we'll tell you. You get one point of contact who steers the whole thing.
Do you provide reports for insurance claims? Yes. We've specialised in water damage and insurance repairs, and we produce clear, documented scopes of work that insurers and assessors can act on. A proper report with moisture readings, photographs, and a defined scope helps your claim move and makes sure nothing gets missed.
Can you give a second opinion if my insurer's scope seems too small? Yes. If the scope your insurer's builder has proposed doesn't seem to match the damage, we can independently investigate and document the actual extent — with measured moisture readings and photographic evidence. An independent, evidence-based scope gives you solid ground to stand on in any discussion with your insurer.
How are you different from a building surveyor or engineer? We're not surveyors or engineers — we're Licensed Building Practitioners who have physically pulled failed buildings apart for over 30 years. We diagnose from hands-on experience, we can carry out the repair ourselves, and if your job needs a surveyor or engineer we'll bring one in. Practical answers, not just theory.
Previous repairs haven't fixed the problem — can you help? That's exactly the kind of job we're built for. When a repair hasn't worked, it usually means the real cause was never found. We investigate properly, find what was missed, and give you a plan that actually fixes it rather than papering over it again.
Can you do a pre-purchase water ingress or moisture check? Yes. If you're buying and you're worried about leaks or hidden moisture, we can investigate and give you clarity before you commit — so you know what you're buying and what it might cost to put right.
How long does an investigation take? A site visit and initial assessment typically takes one to two hours on site. Standard reports are usually delivered within a few working days of the visit, depending on the complexity of testing required. Complex or staged investigations — where the cause needs to be isolated across multiple visits — take longer, and we'll give you a realistic timeframe up front.
What happens if you can't find the leak on the first visit? Some leaks only present under specific conditions — wind-driven rain from one direction, or a fixture in use. Where that happens, we say so, and we stage the investigation to test under the right conditions rather than guessing. Finding the true cause sometimes takes method and patience; that's cheaper than repairing the wrong thing.
What areas do you cover? We're based in Ōtāhuhu and cover the greater Auckland region.
Do you just investigate, or can you carry out the repair too? Both. We diagnose the problem, and as Licensed Building Practitioners we can carry out the repair as well — so the same team that found the problem fixes it properly. If we do the repair, your report cost is credited back against the job.
Method — observe and measure before prescribing; rule causes out before committing
Clear, detailed, plain-English reports insurers, architects, and builders can act on
We don't just write reports. We understand how buildings fail — and how to fix them properly.
Get the right answer first
If you're dealing with a leak you can't find, ongoing moisture issues, a failed repair, or a building problem that doesn't make sense — get in touch. The site visit is free, and you'll get an honest answer about what it needs before you spend anything.