Water Quality

Water run-off is very important to the design of a "low-impact" home.  Most standard homes are designed to send rainwater run-off directly into a sewer system or slow draining retention vault.  Cottage Werks goes to great lengths to achieve a high level of water infiltration and natural drainage.

Cottage Werks homes are designed with smaller rooflines and use pervious paving materials to reduce the amount of necessary water displacement.  Natural vegetation can generally absorb much of the water run-off.  Only excessive water is then directed into a run-off system.

Metal roofing is used to help keep the ground surrounding the home as chemical free as possible.  Standard asphalt roofing materials often give off chemical residue through gassing which is washed off by rainwater and absorbed into the ground.  Cottage Werks commonly uses non-toxic exterior paint and stains for the same reason.