Roofing Project, Public Dump, Mae Sot, Thailand
These photos represent a recent project to put proper roofs on the structures that serve as their homes. The most common roof is a scavenged sheet of plastic lashed to the stick frame. The plastic helps with the rain but makes the houses (even more) intolerable in the hot weather; temperatures can reach 110 degrees with 100% humidity during the rainy season. The photo below is a house for a family of seven.
Fred has undertaken to re-roof these houses with native banana leaf strips, which provide cooling air movement while offering protection from the rain. The roofing is produced locally and costs about $25 per house. Fred is shown below purchasing the roofing material.
Roofing sections are delivered to the dump:
The families can install their own roofs in half a day. These natural roofs contribute a great deal to their comfort, and generally last two years.
And here are two completed houses:
Eyes to Burma 