Welcome to Bahamas Building Supply, founded on the unwavering belief that modern construction materials and methods should be as readily available throughout the Caribbean as in the United States. Sam Ellis, a Design-Build Contractor from Texas, along with his daughter and son-in-law, set out to realize their beachfront dream of developing a property in the charming off-grid community of Little Harbour in Abaco, Bahamas. Their mission is not just a business goal, but a desire to improve the local construction industry. 

They are committed to preserving the rich heritage of Bahamian construction while introducing modern building products. They are acutely aware that the question was not if a hurricane would strike but when. Their observations of Hurricane Dorian revealed that many buildings collapsed due to the failure of concrete foundations, paving, columns and walls that should have survived. This was a stark contrast to Sam’s experience pouring concrete in Texas, where properly poured cement was expected to be the strongest component. The discovery of cracks in the concrete and large flakes of rust peeling from the rebar underscored the need for better construction practices. 

Sam recognized that fiberglass rebar was the solution. Its superior strength and resistance to corrosion made it an ideal choice. However, they faced a common challenge: unavailability of materials in Abaco. This scarcity extended to other construction essentials like lumber, windows, doors, and flooring, highlighting a significant gap in the market. 

Construction in the Bahamas is not just a matter of building; it’s a complex logistical puzzle. Sam had to navigate a steep learning curve, dealing with issues like transportation to Florida, sales tax, shipping to the islands, brokerage fees, duty, and VAT. Through trial and error, they developed relationships with the best suppliers globally and learned the most efficient methods to deliver materials to their job site. They also gained a deep understanding of the complex Bahamian customs, duty and VAT regulations. 

By necessity of building in an off-grid community, most products that Sam gravitated to are energy-efficient, sustainable, and highly resilient to the ocean environment. They imported HDPE concrete wall forms that can be reused hundreds of times, marine-grade plywood, LVL beams, and studs that are ten times stronger, straighter and more termite and rot-resistant than obtainable lumber on the island. Hurricane-rated windows and doors were a non-negotiable for the project and Sam even utilized a Roman concrete-based coating used in lieu of stucco that, when exposed to salt, actively heals cracks in the concrete sub-strata. All of this was cost-competitive compared to the locally available, inferior building materials on the island. 

Now, Bahamas Building Supply brings this hard-gained knowledge to the whole of the Bahamas. Bahamas Building Supply can help your architect with specifications and window and door schedules, your engineer with load calculations and data, and your general contractor with lumber take-offs and timelines. They are proud to deliver superior building products to our Caribbean partners and clients. They are honoured to serve our communities with the service and commitment to integrity that makes the Bahamas and the Caribbean our family’s home!