Roofing in the Caribbean

Roofing across the Caribbean islands is shaped by tropical rain, salt air and, above all, hurricanes. A roof that stays attached in a major storm protects the rest of the house, and much regional building guidance focuses on roof shape, fastening and connection to walls.

Traditional houses

Historic Caribbean houses were mostly timber, raised on posts or blocks, with steep roofs. In Barbados, the movable chattel house stands on loose coral-stone blocks under a steep roof designed to deflect wind and rain, with reinforced shutters. Steep hip and gable roofs clad in wooden shingles, and later corrugated iron, are typical of older houses throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

Why hip roofs

Hip roofs, sloping on all four sides, are self-bracing and lack the tall, flat gable ends that catch wind. For hurricane regions, slopes of about 35 degrees or steeper are often preferred, because lower slopes are more prone to uplift. Hip roofs are therefore widely recommended in Caribbean building guidance.

Modern practice

Today, common roof types include:

• Corrugated and trapezoidal metal sheet on timber or steel purlins, the most widespread covering on houses.
• Reinforced concrete slabs, increasingly used because they resist wind, though they need waterproofing and add weight.
• Asphalt shingles and clay or concrete tile in some markets, particularly on higher-cost homes.

Fixing details matter more than covering type: closely spaced screws with washers, hurricane straps or clips tying rafters to wall plates, minimal overhangs on exposed sides, and secure ridge and edge flashings.

Codes

Many islands have national building codes, often modelled on or referencing North American standards and wind maps. Florida's code, adopted statewide in 2002 after Hurricane Andrew, and its High-Velocity Hurricane Zone product testing (such as TAS 201-203 impact tests) are widely referenced in the region for product approval.

Rainwater

On many islands, roofs collect rainwater into cisterns, which affects the choice of covering and coatings.