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“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Roofing Materials
Before You Start, Consider These Points
The roof that you choose to collect your water from is the most fundamental aspect of any rain water harvesting system. Pitched roofs will give the best results and flat roofs are less desirable, but can still be used, if they are kept in clean condition. That being said the most important part of making sure you have a good source of water will be the surface that it is captured on.
Any roofing material that you have available to you should be kept clean of moss, leaves and any debris. Including the gutters and down pipes. An annual check and cleaning should be fine in an environment such as England. If the roof has serious signs of excessive moss and debris, if should be considered to jet wash the roof, by a professional before collecting the rain water from it.
North facing roofs will bring an increased chance of extra moss and algae build up over the winter months, so extra care for general maintenance and cleaning should be factored in.
Suitable roofing materials for roofs are;
Clay/Terracotta Tiles
Slate Tiles
Concrete Tiles
Zinc Metal Roofs
Glass
Solar Panels
Carbon Fibre
All of the above would give a good supply of water , if kept clean. The following I would avoid if p
Unsuitable roofing Materials for roofs are;
Bitumen Or Felt
Wooden Shingles
Copper Metal
Lead Metal
So lets start with the basics. A metal roof of lead or copper will leach their atoms into the water that flows over them and over time could result in an excess of copper or lead into the drinking supply. If this is consumed by a human, over the course of time lead and copper could build up in the body.