What Are Houses in Cuba Made Of?

Cuban housing materials reflect climate, history, resource availability, and economic constraints. Common materials include:

Structural & Wall Materials

• Concrete Blocks (Bloques): Ubiquitous for walls/partitions. Locally produced; durable, hurricane-resistant.
• Reinforced Concrete (Hormigón Armado): Frame construction (columns, beams, slabs) for multi-story and modern buildings.
• Fired Clay Bricks (Ladrillos): Interior partitions; good thermal/acoustic insulation.
• Stone & Coral (Piedra y Coral): Historic coastal construction (Old Havana, Trinidad); coral limestone blocks; excellent storm resistance.
• Wood (Madera): Rural/traditional "casas de tablas" (plank houses); roof frames, shutters, verandas. Termite-prone.

Roofing

• Red Clay Tiles (Tejas): Traditional, widespread; overlapping rows shed rain, insulate against heat.
• Thatched Roofs (Guano): Dried palm fronds (Cana, Yarey); eastern provinces (Guantánamo, Holguín); natural insulation, biodegradable.
• Corrugated Metal / Fiber-Cement: Common repairs/retrofits; low cost, quick install.
• Flat Concrete Roofs: Urban/modern; often used as terraces; require waterproofing.

Context

Material access is shaped by the US embargo, centralized distribution, and local recycling. Many homes are incremental self-builds, evolving over decades. Heritage districts restrict alterations to preserve colonial/eclectic character.