Construction

Yesterday, my article Vertical Living Reimagined was published in the Jamaica Observer. The response has been powerful — and that tells me something important: Jamaicans are ready to think differently about land, growth, and our future. But let me explain why I wrote it — and what I intentionally left between the lines. This Was Never About Height Too many conversations about vertical...

At some point, a house that once felt like a blessing can begin to feel… limiting. It’s not that you don’t appreciate it. It sheltered you. It held your milestones. It carried your family through seasons of growth and uncertainty. But something has shifted. Maybe the children have grown and need more privacy. Maybe your dining table now doubles as a workstation and the line between home and...

There is something quietly dramatic about a skyline in transition. Cranes pierce the blue Caribbean sky. Concrete cores rise floor by floor. What was once open horizon becomes geometry — vertical, deliberate, ambitious. Jamaica is not simply building; it is evolving. Across the Corporate Area, and increasingly in parishes once defined by low-rise sprawl, multi-storey residential buildings are...

On this island, where the mountains run down into the sea and the breeze can change on you just like that, we’re at a serious crossroads. Jamaica is talking loudly about housing. About dignity. About affordability. And now, about whether container homes should be part of the answer. It’s a conversation we need to have properly. Not just in Parliament. Not just among consultants and committees....

IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE YOU READ Everything shared here is based on general good practice, lived experience, and sound construction principles, but these are ideas—not prescriptions. They are not a replacement for the technical judgement of a licensed structural engineer who has assessed the specific property, location, soil conditions, wind exposure, and risks involved. Hurricane behaviour changes from...

There are places in the world where rebuilding is an event.In Jamaica, rebuilding is a condition. It happens after storms, after illness, after money runs out, after families change shape. It happens slowly, incrementally, often without ceremony. A roof is patched. A wall repainted. A window fixed not because it is time, but because it is necessary. Hurricane Melissa did what storms always do here:...

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER — READ BEFORE USING THIS GUIDANCE HURRICANES ARE EXTREME, UNPREDICTABLE EVENTS. NO HOME IS HURRICANE-PROOF. EVEN THE STRONGEST, BEST-DESIGNED, AND CODE-COMPLIANT STRUCTURES CAN FAIL IF THEY ARE POORLY POSITIONED, STRUCK BY LARGE DEBRIS, EXPOSED TO STORM SURGE OR FLOODING, OR COMPROMISED BY A SINGLE WEAK SPOT OR OPENING. WIND DIRECTION, LOCAL TOPOGRAPHY, CONSTRUCTION QUALITY, AND...

When it comes to hurricanes in Jamaica, we live with a different level of urgency. Gusts don’t come as abstract numbers in studies—they come. The question isn’t if but how strong, which angle, and how we build. As Jamaica Homes founder, I say: “A roof might seem like a simple thing—until the wind treats it like a board at sea. Then you’ll know.” This guide flips the usual U.S.-centric advice...

Disclaimer: The following is a reasoned interpretation based on available public-information concerning the passage of Hurricane Melissa over the town of Black River (St Elizabeth parish), Jamaica. It is not based on detailed engineering surveys of each roof and should be treated as informative rather than definitive. Local building records, structural assessments and site-specific investigations would be...

Building a home is one of life’s most significant endeavors. It’s a process that requires careful planning, thoughtful decision-making, and collaboration with experts. From conceptualizing your dream house to monitoring construction and managing costs, this guide will walk you through every step. How to Approach Designing Your Home The first step in building your home is to establish...