Metal has long been a trusted choice in agricultural construction, offering property owners a unique combination of durability, efficiency, versatility, and long-term cost-effectiveness. From equipment storage and livestock housing to crop protection and machinery shelters, metal roofing and siding deliver superior resistance to environmental threats such as moisture, pests, and fire. These qualities make post-frame buildings with metal panels a reliable, future-proof solution for protecting agricultural assets and supporting day-to-day operations.
This guide explores everything agricultural property owners need to know about post-frame buildings, including their most common uses, the various types of panels available, material and coating options, installation best practices, cost considerations, and environmental benefits. Whether you're starting from scratch or updating aging structures, understanding your options can help you make better decisions that protect your investment for decades to come.
Benefits of Metal Panels in Agricultural Applications
The value of metal panels in agriculture buildings is anchored in their performance under pressure. Post-frame buildings with metal roofs and sidewalls are engineered to endure demanding conditions that degrade traditional materials much faster. For starters, metal panels are highly durable and built to withstand wind, hail, heavy snow loads, and ultraviolet exposure.
Maintenance is also simplified with post-frame buildings that use metal panels for their exterior skins. This type of building doesn't require routine painting, staining, or pest treatments. Instead, the panels are resistant to mold, warping, and impact damage, and thanks to finishes like Kynar 500®, they retain their color and gloss for decades with minimal upkeep.
Energy efficiency is another significant advantage. Metal roofing reflects sunlight and heat, helping to maintain lower interior temperatures during warm seasons. When paired with insulation, it also provides thermal stability during colder months, which is critical for protecting stored crops and keeping livestock comfortable. These energy savings can have a notable impact on operational costs year-round.
Common Metal Panel Agriculture Applications
Due to strength, longevity, and ease of use, metal roofing panels are commonly used in agricultural applications. Roofing is the most common application, found on 87% of agricultural buildings. Barns, silos, poultry houses, machine sheds, and livestock shelters all rely on metal roofing for long-term protection against hail, wind, and extreme temperatures.
Metal siding is equally popular and practical. It is frequently used for barns, feed storage areas, workshops, and equipment sheds. Metal siding resists pests, weather-related damage, and dents. With panel styles like our Max-Rib, Modern-Rib, and Mesa, you can select from a wide variety of panel styles and colors to achieve the desired result.
Types of Metal Panels
Panel choice plays a key role in how a building looks, performs, and fits into your budget. Exposed fastener panels are one of the most popular and cost-effective options. They're easy to install and work well for barns, lean-tos, and general storage buildings. While the fasteners are visible, they're sealed with washers to maintain weather resistance.
Corrugated panels provide another reliable exposed fastened option, especially known for their strength, drainage capabilities, and lightweight profile. They've long been favored for barns, pole buildings, and large utility sheds.
In contrast, concealed fastener panels offer a cleaner, more polished appearance. Since the fasteners are hidden beneath the panel edges, they reduce potential leak points and are ideal for more visible structures like farm offices or show barns.
For premium performance, standing seam panels represent the top-tier choice. These interlocking panels provide outstanding weather resistance and support expanded thermal movement, reducing the chance of oil canning or panel stress. Their seamless integration with solar panel systems also makes them ideal for energy-conscious agricultural operations.
If you're not sure which product type is the best for your project, check out some of our top resources below:
Material Substrate Options
Material selection impacts how a building performs under different environmental conditions.
One of the most obvious elements contributing to metal panel quality is the metal itself. Most metal panels are produced from two different types of steel: Galvanized or Galvalume®. In both cases, the base steel receives a coating. Galvanized substrates are coated with a zinc alloy, and Galvalume® substrates are coated with an alloy of zinc plus aluminum. Both have their advantages.
Zinc levels represent a critical difference in galvanized panels because higher zinc levels provide greater protection against panel corrosion. G90 and G60 are two commonly used Galvanized substrates. These designations relate to the total amount of zinc contained on both sides of the panel surfaces. G90 products contain .09 ounces of zinc for every square foot of panel, while G60 substrates contain 0.6 ounces of zinc.
At first blush, that difference doesn't appear to be significant, but nothing could be further from the truth. G90 products contain 50% more protective zinc than a G60 substrate. This difference has a direct correlation to panel longevity. Consequently, you should expect both lower cost and performance from the G60 products; however, the image below illustrates that even G90 products exhibit considerable rust in both marine and rural environments after 18 years.
Galvalume®, invented by Bethlehem Steel in 1972, is a combination of 43.5% zinc, 55% aluminum, and 1.5% silicone. Its composition combines the sacrificial properties of zinc and the barrier protection of aluminum.
More than four decades of testing and field applications have shown that Galvalume® routinely delivers superior corrosion resistance in most project types compared to Galvanized panels and is the preferred substrate for projects where long-term performance is essential.
The illustration below shows Galvalume panels after 23 years of exposure in both marine and rural settings. When compared to the Galvanized images above, the stark difference in performance between Galvanized and Galvalume becomes apparent.
Galvalume's performance has been so superior that steel mills actually warrant the Galvalume® substrate (or metal) against perforation caused by corrosion. Similar steel mill warranties simply do not exist for Galvanized substrates. Therefore, it's crucial to remember that a Galvanized product will not offer a mill-provided substrate warranty, and a Galvalume® product may provide a 45-50-year warranty, depending on the manufacturer.
NOTE: If you're considering an animal confinement project, Galvanized substrates may be your best option. Please contact us to discuss confinement projects, and we'll be happy to discuss your specific circumstances.
Metal Panel Coating Options
Metal panel coatings consist of three primary ingredients: pigments, binder/resin, and solvents
Pigments are the coating ingredients responsible for color. Paint is created when the pigment is dispersed into the binder/resin.
The resin is what holds or binds the pigment together and protects the coating from UV degradation. Higher-quality resins provide the greatest protection against panel chalk and fade. Conversely, coatings produced from lower-quality resins are more apt to fade and chalk. These failures occur when the binder breaks down and no longer holds the pigment together.
The third primary coating ingredient, solvents, is responsible for ensuring the paint has the desired viscosity to be correctly applied. In the case of metal roofing and siding, the solvent evaporates (burns off from heat) during the coil-coating process.
The three most common resins for metal roofing and siding are Polyester, Silicone Modified Polyester (SMP), and PVDF (commonly known by the Kynar 500® trade name). These coatings have a well-defined good, better, and best performance rating.
GOOD: Polyester coatings are on the low end of the quality spectrum and are most often utilized for interior applications, such as liner panels or interior design accents. They represent the "Good" value in our Good/Better/Best comparison.
BETTER: Silicone Modified Polyesters (SMP) is an improvement over straight polyester coatings and represents an alternative between Polyester and Kynar 500® coatings. While the same pigments are used in all three coating types, the resin systems are very different and attributable to their different performance levels. SMP resins are better than those used in polyester systems, but are of lower quality than those used in Kynar 500® systems. As a result, SMP systems can be subject to conditions known as fade and chalk, often within just a few years of installation. Fading occurs when the environment attacks the pigment portion of the paint system.
BEST: PVDF (Kynar 500®) coatings, however, provide the "Best" protection available against fade and chalk. PVDF/Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 coatings are now the desired product for quality-conscious consumers who expect their new building to look great and function well for literally decades.
While the photo above highlights the stark contrast between SMP and Kynar systems, the next image demonstrates the excellent color stability of Kynar coatings. This building in the photo below was built in two phases, nine years apart. Note that there is no color difference between the original roof and the addition.
With a better understanding of the difference in expected performance between SMP and PVDF systems, you may be wondering about the cost difference between the two options. The answer to that question varies greatly depending on the manufacturer. McElroy Metal is one of the few manufacturers in the agricultural post-frame market that stocks a full-color offering in both 29-gauge and 26-gauge Kynar material. As a result, the cost difference between the two systems is minimal for us; however, you may find a larger difference with other manufacturers.
Installation Considerations
Proper installation is essential to the long-term success of a post-frame building with metal roof and wall panels. The building must be properly designed and engineered to ensure the structure can handle the panel weight, along with snow and wind loads specific to your region. If solar panels are to be added, the structure should be designed to carry the extra load.
Using the correct fastener system is also critical. Self-drilling screws and weather-sealed washers are typically used with exposed fastener panels, while concealed systems will be attached to the substructure with clips and fasteners.
When using exposed fastened systems, it's important to ensure proper installation and seating of the washer. Installers must be careful to avoid over-tightening screws, which can compress seals and compromise waterproofing, as shown in the image below.
Fastener selection also plays an important role. A regular fastener with a separate washer can shift or fall off during installation, increasing the risk of leaks or inconsistent sealing. In contrast, a fastener with a bonded head and washer combines the components into a single unit, ensuring a tighter, more reliable seal and faster, hassle-free installation. Bonded washers also help maintain consistent pressure and reduce the chance of over-compression or damage to panel surfaces.
Additional weatherproofing strategies should include closure strips, butyl tape, and sealants at all seams and penetrations. Insulation and proper ventilation are vital to managing condensation and ensuring a comfortable interior, especially in buildings used for livestock, processing, or equipment storage.
Cost Analysis
Initial costs for a post-frame agricultural building include the type of panels chosen, coating systems, insulation, labor, and any accessories such as gutters or ridge vents. While concealed fastener and standing seam systems are more expensive up front than exposed fastener panels, they can pay off in aesthetics, performance, and longevity.
Over the long run, post-frame buildings with metal roof and wall panels reduce maintenance expenses and can deliver significant energy savings. They also enhance overall property value, making them a smart asset for farm owners planning to pass land on to the next generation or sell in the future.
Further, in some cases, metal roofs may qualify for insurance discounts due to their fire and weather resistance. Additionally, farms investing in energy-efficient systems may be eligible for local rebates or tax incentives.
Environmental Considerations
Post-frame buildings with metal roof and wall panels also represent an environmentally friendly option. Most metal panels are manufactured with 25% to 95% recycled content and are fully recyclable at the end of their life. This reduces landfill waste and contributes to circular resource use.
Energy efficiency is also enhanced by metal's reflective properties. Roofs coated with cool colors or finishes reflect solar heat, reducing interior temperatures and cutting down on energy usage. These benefits make metal a sustainable solution that supports both operational savings and long-term stewardship of the land.
Conclusion
Building post-frame structures with metal roof and wall panels provides agricultural property owners with a durable, efficient, and sustainable option that meets the demands of modern farming. Whether building a new equipment shelter, replacing a worn-out barn roof, or constructing a multipurpose facility, metal's resilience, low maintenance, and performance make it a smart investment.
To explore our full range of agricultural products and resources, visit the post frame/agricultural page on our website.
Not sure a post-frame building is right for your agricultural project? Check out our EasyFrame Buildings below!
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