This is a huge ponding controversy. Many will insist they are perfectly fine, that they are made at the same factory. Many will insist they are not fish safe.

I have not used roofing liner so I don't know personally but I have read many threads over the years by people who have.

I used it in my lily pond....which has since been converted to a longfin pond. It has talc on it that must be washed off....but otherwise I had no issues with it at all. It was a lot cheaper too.

I fully intend to go with a roofing membrane (.45 mil EPDM) which costs $81 for a 20' X 10'sheet. I have heard you should wash the talc off first as well.

Let the wars begin!

I used roofing liner for my pond. Had it 5 years, no problems!

Matt

I have a 4x4x1'deep lotus trough that is lined with RV rubber roofing. It was a lot cheaper but that's because I got it for free. I keep mosqito fish in with the lotus with no problems.

Happy ponding,
Scott

Yes, four years running.
Yes.
Yes.
No.

pondliners.com.

-- Zinnia

LOL!

My husband of 45 years told me if I ever got another pond built, it would have to be by another husband, so I would not use anything but a liner made especially for ponds guaranteed for 20 years. He said the last 2 just about killed him. I guess if anything happened to the liner, I could with the help of the grandkids replace it though. My daughter said my next husband better have a daughter also, because she isn't helping to build anymore either. So it depends on what your expectations are. If you don't pay it now you may later.Glenda

Supposedly, the Firestone EDPM pond liner and Firestone Roofing membrane are the very same thing. The difference between the two is the coating they put on the roofing membrane to prevent it from sticking to itself and for ease in roofing applications. Many folks simply scrub this off and allow the liner to lay in the sun for a few days and it works fine for ponds. Its a long running debate right up there with rocks in the pond. :)

roofing membrane and pond liner are the exact same material, made in the same factory. Roofing membrane has talc added. that's it. A pond made with roofing membrane will last the exact same length of time as one made with pond liner. The only difficulty you might run in to is the warranty. Pond liners carry a warranty that applies to pond, and roofing membranes do not. the problem is, I have never heard of a pond liner failing for any of the conditions that the warranty covers. Liners fail because a hole gets punched in them, improper installation of liner penetrations, insect damage, sides caving in, etc. NONE of those conditions would be covered by the warranty anyway.....so really the warranty is useless.

Everyone is correct and wrong at the same time. Yes they are made the same and of the same materials. The only difference is when they make pond liner they are careful not to get anything on it and some companies test it. Depending on the company they may or may not use more talic. But the talic is not a problem for a pond. The question is do you feel lucky or not. The largest water garden company in the US didn't think there was a difference and sold roofing liner as pond liner. Did it for years with no real problems until a few years ago and killed quite a few ponds with there liner. They now sell only pond liner. If you use roofing liner there is very little chance that you will have a problem but there is a chance. So to quote Dirty Harry do you feel lucky.
Mike