Roofing around the world
Every country, every roof.
History from the earliest evidence, traditional roofs, today's materials, building codes, industry and landmark roofs. All 200 countries and territories have a full entry.
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Drag to rotate. Hover a country to preview its roofing story, click to open it. Every country and territory on the globe has a full entry.
Browse the list ↓Western Europe
Southern Europe
Northern & Eastern Europe
Middle East & Caucasus
Central & South Asia
East Asia
Southeast Asia
Oceania
North Africa & Horn of Africa
West Africa
Central & East Africa
Southern Africa & Indian Ocean
North America & Caribbean
Central & South America
Regional overviews
- Roofing in Argentina and ChileOverview of Southern Cone roofing: Andean grass thatch, colonial clay tile, Chiloé's wooden shingles, metal sheet in the south, all with seismic design in Chile.
- Roofing in East AfricaOverview of roofing in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia: grass thatch traditions largely replaced by corrugated iron sheets (mabati).
- Roofing in North AfricaOverview of roofing in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt: flat roof terraces, earth kasbahs, domes and vaults, cedar ceilings and concrete today.
- Roofing in Poland and Eastern EuropeOverview of roofing in Poland and Eastern Europe: wooden shingle heritage, clay and concrete tile, metal sheet tiles and legacy asbestos-cement sheets.
- Roofing in ScandinaviaOverview of roofing in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland: turf and timber traditions, clay and concrete tiles, sheet metal and designs for snow.
- Roofing in Southeast AsiaOverview of roofing in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia: steep tropical roofs, clay tile, thatch and widespread metal sheet.
- Roofing in Southern AfricaOverview of Southern African roofing: thatched rondavels and Cape Dutch homes, widespread corrugated iron, and concrete and clay tiles in suburbs.
- Roofing in the Arctic and GreenlandOverview of roofing in Greenland and the Arctic: turf and timber traditions, metal and membrane roofs today, designed for snow, wind, cold and ice.
- Roofing in the CaribbeanOverview of Caribbean roofing: steep hip roofs, corrugated metal and concrete slabs, shaped above all by hurricane winds.
- Roofing in the Middle East and GulfOverview of roofing in the Middle East and Gulf: flat masonry and concrete roofs, domes and windcatchers, with heat, sun and rare heavy rain as drivers.
- Roofing in the Netherlands and BelgiumOverview of Low Countries roofing: ceramic pantiles and flat tiles, a living reed-thatch tradition and many flat roofs with membranes and greenery.
- Roofing in the Pacific IslandsOverview of Pacific Islands roofing: thatched timber buildings lashed with sennit, largely replaced by corrugated metal, built for cyclones.
- Roofing in West AfricaOverview of West African roofing: Sahelian earth roofs and coastal thatch traditions, now mostly corrugated metal and concrete slabs.