Tonight, hundreds of Belizeans are hoping it doesn't rain because their roofs were damaged by Hurricane Lisa which, it appears, had an appetite for zinc. In fact, apart from lampposts and trees, mainly zinc sheets from rooftops littered the ground in the aftermath of the storm. So while some buildings withstood the wind, their roofs, not so much.
That got us thinking - why were some zinc roofs so vulnerable? Was it the type of material used? Or was it simply the force of the wind?
According to one engineer, while the studier sheets of zinc are better, it all comes down to how your roof is built - and most roofs aren't actually constructed according to proper building codes.
Jonas Sanchez, treasurer of the Association of Professional Engineers, explained more about how you can ensure your roof stays on for the next storm. Courtney Menzies has this story.
And while the most obvious solution would be to build houses with 4 inch concrete slabs as roofs, Sanchez admits that most people may not be able to afford that.
However, if you're thinking of fixing up your zinc roof and want some affordable advice, you can contact the engineers at APEB at info@apebbelize.org.
