As a farm owner, your agricultural buildings are some of your most valuable assets. Whether it’s a barn protecting your livestock, a storage facility safeguarding your crops, or a machine shed housing your essential equipment, these structures need to stand up to the toughest conditions Mother Nature can throw at them. And at the heart of that protection? Your roof. The right roof can mean the difference between peace of mind and a costly repair down the road.
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But with so many materials available, how do you make the right decision? While metal roofing is widely recognized as a solid option, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of other materials. Each type has its own unique set of benefits and challenges that can affect your farm’s efficiency, sustainability, and costs.
In this guide, we’ll explore the different roofing materials suited for agricultural buildings, highlight their practical advantages, and offer insights to help you choose the best solution for your farm’s specific needs.
Before diving into material specifics, it’s crucial to ask: What exactly do you need from your roof? Here are a few practical considerations to keep in mind:
With these practicalities in mind, let’s compare some of the most popular agricultural roofing options.
For decades, metal roofing has been the go-to option for agricultural buildings. It’s the material of choice for good reason—offering a combination of durability, longevity, and low maintenance that’s hard to beat.
Exceptional Durability: Metal roofs last up to 50 years or more, standing up to extreme weather conditions like high winds, hail, and heavy snowfall.Fire Resistance: Metal has a Class A fire rating, meaning it’s non-combustible and resists the spread of flames. For farms in wildfire-prone areas, this can be a critical advantage.
Pest Protection: Unlike wood, metal can’t be chewed through by rodents or damaged by termites.
Low Maintenance: Aside from occasional inspections and minor repairs, metal roofs require very little upkeep, making them ideal for busy farmers.
Initial Cost: The upfront cost of metal roofing is higher than other materials, though the long lifespan makes it a worthy investment.
Noise Factor: During rain or hailstorms, metal roofs can be noisy without proper insulation.
Ammonia Corrosion: If you’re housing livestock, ammonia from animal waste can corrode untreated metal over time, so ventilation and periodic cleaning are essential.
Asphalt shingles are often overlooked for agricultural buildings but remain a viable option, particularly for smaller, less weather-exposed structures. Their primary draw is their affordability and ease of installation.
Affordability: Asphalt shingles are one of the least expensive roofing options, making them a good choice for small barns or storage buildings.
Ease of Installation: Installation is straightforward and can be done quickly, reducing labor costs.
Wide Availability: Shingles are widely available in various colors and styles, allowing for some design flexibility.
Shorter Lifespan: Shingles typically last 15-20 years, much shorter than metal or other materials.
Less Weather-Resistant: In areas with extreme weather, asphalt shingles may not hold up as well as metal or tile roofing.
Maintenance: They can be prone to algae and moss growth, requiring regular cleaning and inspections.
Wood shingles and shakes offer a charming, rustic look that fits naturally into farm landscapes. Historically, many barns and stables were covered with wood roofs, but modern farming has moved away from this material due to its drawbacks.
Natural Insulation: Wood provides a degree of insulation, keeping barns warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Aesthetic Appeal: For farmers who want to maintain a traditional or rustic aesthetic, wood shakes can add to the visual appeal of the farm.
Fire Hazard: Wood is highly flammable unless treated with fire retardants. This can pose a significant risk, especially in dry areas.
High Maintenance: Wood requires regular treatment and cleaning to prevent rot, mold, and insect damage.
Short Lifespan: Wood roofs typically last 20-30 years, which is less than most modern materials.
Clay and concrete tiles are more commonly associated with residential or commercial buildings, but they can be a suitable option for certain types of agricultural structures. While these materials offer incredible durability, they come with a few practical challenges that farmers need to consider.
Longevity: These materials are incredibly durable, lasting upwards of 50 years or more. They are highly resistant to fire, rot, and pests.
Weather Resistance: Tile roofs can withstand harsh weather conditions, including high winds, extreme heat, and hail.
Energy Efficiency: Clay and concrete tiles provide natural insulation, keeping the interior of the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Weight: Clay and concrete are heavy materials that may require additional structural support, making them unsuitable for older barns without reinforcement.
Cost: The initial cost of tile roofing is high, and repairs can be expensive as well.
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Complex Installation: Installing tile roofs is labor-intensive and requires specialized skills.
Corrugated plastic, or polycarbonate, is a lightweight roofing material often used for agricultural structures that need natural light, such as greenhouses, chicken coops, or storage sheds.
Light Transmission: Allows natural light to filter in, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
Lightweight: It’s easy to install and doesn’t require heavy-duty structural support.
Affordable: For farmers on a tight budget, corrugated plastic is a low-cost option.
Less Durable: Plastic roofs can crack or degrade over time, especially under heavy snowfall or hail.
UV Damage: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the material to become brittle or discolored.
Shorter Lifespan: It doesn’t last nearly as long as metal or tile roofing, so replacement may be necessary after 10-15 years.
If you’re housing livestock, you need to be aware of potential issues like ammonia buildup. Ammonia, a chemical present in animal waste, can cause corrosion of metal roofs if ventilation is poor. However, regular maintenance and a proper ventilation system can prevent this problem and ensure your metal roof remains in excellent condition for decades. Fortunately, keeping your roof clean and well-ventilated doesn’t require extensive expertise—simple yearly inspections and cleanings are usually enough to catch issues early and keep the roof intact.
Choosing the right roofing material is only part of the equation. Here are some additional tips to ensure your roof performs well over the long term:
Ultimately, the best roof for your agricultural building depends on your unique needs, budget, and the environment in which you operate. Metal roofing offers unparalleled durability, longevity, and resistance to both weather and pests, making it the top choice for most farmers. However, asphalt shingles, wood, clay tiles, and even corrugated plastic have their place, depending on your priorities.
The ideal roof type for agricultural buildings is metal panels, especially when housing livestock. They offer durability and flexibility in design, giving you the freedom to make your agricultural building function and aesthetically pleasing. There are many benefits to choosing metal panels for the roof of your agricultural buildings, as well as a few considerations for housing livestock.
Metal Panels are Durable
Metal panels are specifically designed with durability in mind. From high winds to heavy snowfall, they can withstand most climactic conditions. They’re even resistant to hail and have a Class A fire rating, the highest rating a roofing material can obtain. This means a fire won’t spread from the roof and it is less likely to collapse. Metal is also noncombustible.
The durability also lends a hand in a metal panel’s pest resistance. Unlike wood, they can’t be damaged by termites and other insects. This makes your agricultural building less susceptible to pest damage, as well as keeping your livestock safe from the damages they can cause on a roof.
Longevity
Longevity is important in the agriculture industry. Rather than paying for a roof replacement every 20 years or so with a typical shingle roof, metal roofs will last three to four times longer than other materials. They usually last up to 60 years, meaning you’re unlikely to have to replace your roof within that span of time. With proper maintenance and regular inspections, damages can be caught in no time and repaired without compromising the strength of your roof.
Cost Savings
Maintenance and replacement costs won’t break the bank with a metal roof. It’s durability means that the need for maintenance checks will be far and few between. You also save in the long run as replacements aren’t as consistent as with other roofing materials as explained above.
Sustainability
Metal Panels can be made from recycled materials, making them much more sustainable than other roofing materials. They’re also 100% recyclable at the end of its lifespan. Many agriculturalists reuse the material for other areas on their land such as making a base for grounded coops and cages to keep predators from digging underground and reaching your animals.
Ease of Installation
Not only are metal panels quick to install, they are efficient to install. Since metal panels can be cut to the closest ¼ inch, they can be cut prior to installation and aligned perfectly with the building.
Design Flexibility
When you install metal panels, you can choose to go with the classic red or green barn roof, or you can choose a variety of styles, profiles, colors, and finished. You have the option to choose any color that is offered in the metal panels you choose. For energy efficiency, choose a light color to reflect the sun’s heat. This will keep your barn cooler during the hot summer months.
Confining animals in an enclosure can pose particular challenges on panels that most people don’t have to think about for their residential and commercial buildings.
Here’s something that you should keep in mind when it comes to the maintenance of the roof housing livestock.
Ammonia is a chemical compound that can corrode metal. Animal waste from cattle and other animals have high levels of ammonia which can start corroding a metal roof in as little as five years. This is caused by airborne fumes that can ruin a metal roof the same way it can ruin the walls where manure and dirt collect. An easy way to minimize both problems is by having good ventilation and regular maintenance. This is cost effective because the maintenance is simply a deep cleaning yearly which can be performed by anyone. Calling your local roofing company for yearly inspection can catch any premature damage quickly.
If it’s time to repair or replace your agricultural roofing system, you’re going to want a roofing contractor who can guarantee you that your project goes well. Options Exteriors offers two panel options to make certain that you not only get the roof you need, but one that will last throughout the years. The agricultural industry needs barns, shelters, stables, and more that will protect their assets from all the battering that the weather can bring.
If you have any questions about our services, or any general inquiries, please feel free to call us at (651) 705- for the Minneapolis, MN area and (319) 343- for the Cedar Rapids, IA area. We will be happy to help.
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