The materials we source for members
The items below are just a sample, we source far more than what’s shown, factory-direct for CAS members. Need something that isn’t listed? That’s exactly what we’re built for, send us your bill of materials and we’ll source it.
The materials Caribbean builders struggle to get
Island construction runs almost entirely on imports, so the essentials are exactly what’s most often back-ordered, overpriced or out of stock, especially in storm season. These are the materials we focus on securing factory-direct for our members:
Cement
- Portland cement, bag & bulk
- Masonry & mortar cement
- Rapid-set / high-early
Import-dependent, and demand spikes faster than supply, one of the first materials to run short in a building boom or after a storm.
Steel & Rebar
- Mild-steel rebar, all gauges
- Welded mesh & stirrups
- Tie wire & spacers
Almost entirely imported and tied to volatile global steel prices, with long lead times and frequent back-orders.
Lumber & plywood
- Pressure-treated framing
- Marine & exterior plywood
- OSB sheathing boards
Little local timber. Plywood and OSB sell out before and after hurricanes, when everyone boards up and rebuilds at once.
Roofing sheets
- Galvanised & galvalume sheets
- Standing-seam metal roofing
- Ridge caps, flashing & screws
Galvanised, aluminium and metal roofing are the first casualty of every storm and the hardest to restock quickly.
Ready-mix concrete & admixtures
- Ready-mix & site concrete
- Plasticisers & accelerators
- Waterproofing admixtures
Mix quality and supply vary island to island, and the right admixtures for the climate aren’t always on hand.
Hurricane straps & impact protection
- Hurricane straps & fasteners
- Impact-rated windows & doors
- Hurricane clips & tie-downs
When the forecast turns, these sell out first, straps, impact-rated openings and fixings that keep roofs and walls fastened down.
Solar panels, inverters & batteries
- PV panels, mono & poly
- Hybrid inverters & controllers
- Lithium battery storage
Demand is climbing fast for energy resilience and unreliable grids, against globally supply-constrained stock.
Corrosion-resistant rebar & hardware
- Epoxy-coated & galvanised rebar
- Stainless fasteners & connectors
- Marine-grade fixings
Coastal, salt-air builds need it, but corrosion-resistant grades are specialty stock that’s scarce locally.
Anything not listed
- Send us your bill of materials
- We source it factory-direct
- Shipped & cleared to your island
Sourcing the hard-to-find is exactly what the co-op is for, if it’s not on this page, just ask.
This is a sample of what we source. We also supply waterproofing membranes & coatings, aggregates, PVC & plumbing and much more, if it’s hard to find on-island, send us your bill of materials and we’ll quote it factory-direct.