Evaluation of Roof Structure Performance in Traditional Mud-Brick Buildings in Sokoto State

Traditional mud-brick architecture represents a significant portion of the rural built environment in Sokoto State and the broader North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Despite its historical and cultural importance, the structural performance of roof systems in these buildings under contemporary loading and climatic conditions has received limited technical investigation. This study evaluates the performance of roof structures in thirty traditional mud-brick buildings across Sokoto, Tambuwal, and Wurno Local Government Areas, examining timber purlin sizing, roof pitch, load transfer mechanisms, and evidence of structural distress. A combination of physical measurement, deflection observation, and material testing of timber samples was employed. Roof loading was estimated using the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute climatic data for the region, incorporating live load, wind uplift, and dust accumulation load components. Results indicate that approximately seventy-three percent of the surveyed roofs exhibited inadequate purlin sizing relative to their spans, contributing to visible mid-span deflections exceeding span/200. Termite infestation was identified in over sixty percent of assessed timber members, reducing effective cross-sectional area by up to forty percent in the worst-affected specimens. The impact of recent changes in rainfall intensity on surface erosion of mud-brick walls was also noted as a compounding factor affecting overall structural system performance. The study recommends community-based roof maintenance programmes, use of treated timber species, and preservation of traditional building skills alongside structural performance improvements. Keywords: mud-brick buildings, roof structure, Sokoto State, timber, termite infestation.