GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Roofing material for water catchment

stephenr | Posted in General Questions on

Hello,

I am designing a water catchment for my zone 6 coastal maine house.  Its a 3/12 single pitch roof.   The roof can only be viewed by the squirrels, as it sheds towards a mature forest, so the way it looks is not a concern.   
I will be drinking this water (filters, etc.)  The main criteria in my decision are cost,  contaminants from the material getting into my drinking supply, and penetrations.

I have narrowed my choice down to EPDM rubber roof and a metal roof.  I will be installing it myself and there is a local metal supplier who is very inexpensive.  Many penetrations in this roof, including a wood stove pipe.   I am told that cinders are not a concern with EPDM.

I can get non standing seam metal roof for about half the price as standing seam.

Thanks for any input.

   

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. Expert Member
    MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #1

    stephenr,

    From Chuck Bickford's blog a couple of days ago:

    "The quality of the water collected depends in part on the roofing material. In this rainwater-harvesting document prepared by the EPA, wood, copper, painted, or lead-flashed roofs aren’t recommended for harvesting because the water tends to leach out harmful substances from those materials. Unpainted Galvalume or rubber membranes are generally considered to be the best for water quality."
    https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/residential-rainwater-harvesting

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |