Latest update June 8th, 2026 12:14 AM
Bungalow roofs vs. V-Shaped roofs
DEAR EDITOR,
In an Article of August 24 on the above captioned subject, KN Staff Reporter Leonard Gildarie made an interesting comparison with respect to roof shapes for houses in Guyana.
Unfortunately he took a simplistic view of a complex element of a structure, as without a properly installed roof on a newly constructed building its usefulness could deteriorate quickly as water infiltrates downwards through the roof, damaging what it is supposed to protect.
Roofing in Guyana is dictated by the layout of the building, structural/architectural requirements, pitch, materials available and their costs. Sheet metal has been the preferred material used but asphalt shingles and clay tiles have been used on the more upscale buildings while Troolie Palm leaves have covered the roof of houses of the less fortunate in rural areas.
Sheeting costs for roofs are determined by the type of metal used, its gauge and coating applied. Metal sheets have had a proven record of being the most durable and economic means of covering a roof in the hot, humid tropics and protecting the structure from the elements. However the sheets have to be installed by experienced personnel who could determine the required overlapping tolerances for the sheets to prevent water infiltration, particularly at the ridges and valleys, type of fasteners to be used to fix them to the rafters and the correct metal roof sealant (not any clear silicone) for the fastener caps.
Nailing metal sheets to the rafters, as Mr. Gildarie sadly experienced, is not an alternative method of fastening the sheets if the problems he encountered are to be avoided. As wind blows over a roof, differential pressures are generated over and under the sheets and during heavy rainfall, water could be sucked in under the overlaps and onto the ceiling if the tolerances are not adequate.
In a wet, humid environment, asphalt shingle roofs suffer from stains and streaks due to algae growth and this could be unsightly. Clay tiles are heavy and require specially designed rafters. They could also be leaky if their overlaps are not properly sealed. Troolie-thatched roofs are cool on hot, sunny days, but they require regular maintenance which could be expensive.
Architectural beauty is expensive and therefore a bungalow and other buildings with complex-shaped roofs will by their very nature be costly to construct vis-à-vis ‘run of the mill’ V-shaped roofs for houses with simple layouts. It all boils down as to what a house owner could afford which will dictate the type of roof he chooses to impress his neighbours, and not its practicability.
Unfortunately a very much neglected need for a building is its internal layout to serve the desired objectives of being functional to its user, but more often than not this aspect is overlooked. It is no wonder therefore that so many buildings in Guyana look stylish from the outside but once inside they are difficult to navigate and accommodate.
Charles Sohan
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