As the DR continue to improve exonomically, wooden homes with zinc roofs are on their way to extinction as happened in the 20th century in neighboring Puerto Rico after the 1940’s. (https://arquitexto.com/2022/03/viviendas-populares-de-salcedo/)
Zinc roofs are quintessential in the DR because since the late 1800’s when zinc roof begsn to dominate at expense of thatch roofs. Well, now zinc roofs are in the minority again and falling. According to data from the last census, in 2022 50.9% of homes had cement roofs (includes cement roofs covered in tiles) while 47.5% had zinc roofs.
To get a perspective, in 2014 an article in El Día newspaper highlighted that then 58% of homes had a zinc roof and 66% cement floors. (https://eldia.com.do/el-58-de-las-viviendas-dominicanas-tiene-techo-de-zinc-y-el-66-piso-de-cemento/)
The most recent census show that 50.9% of homes have cement floors, 34.1% have tile floors, and 10.4% have mosaic floors. Notice that dirt floors, which once were the majority of homes, now are neglible.
In addition, 82% of homes have cinderblock walls (not surprising since this is obvious by simply looking around in most places) and 13% have wooden walls. As recent as the 1990’s, most homes were of wood.
Signs of the time. As time goes forward, expect more homes with cement walls and roofs. It would be better aesthetically if tile roofs become the norm. Many barrios would look nicer from above if they had tile roofs.