Metal Roofing for Equestrian and Agricultural Buildings: Durability, Protection & Long-Term Value

For buildings that must operate year-round, like barns, arenas, confinement facilities, and equipment storage structures, longevity isn't just a convenience; it's a core financial advantage. A roof that lasts half a century or more helps owners avoid repeated tear-offs, unplanned interruptions, and costly repairs that eat into operational budgets.

The Metal Construction Association reinforces this performance advantage. Their research confirms that modern metal roofing systems regularly exceed 60 years when properly installed and maintained.

This kind of lifespan is especially valuable for family-run operations where facilities pass from one generation to the next. A metal roof installed today can realistically serve children and grandchildren without needing replacement.

Engineered Durability for Demanding Environments

Agricultural and equestrian buildings operate in environments that can be far more aggressive than typical commercial structures. High humidity, extreme temperature swings, airborne dust, and constant weather exposure all take a toll on building materials. And for facilities that house animals, ammonia adds another layer of corrosive challenge.

Metal roofing is engineered to perform exceptionally well in these demanding conditions, but choosing the right metal substrate is critical.

Generally speaking, buildings with animal confinement or regular manure exposure should not use Galvalume® because ammonia breaks down its aluminum-zinc coating, leading to premature corrosion. For these environments—including poultry houses, swine barns, dairy facilities, and other structures where animals are housed—McElroy Metal recommends galvanized steel, ideally with the highest zinc level available (G100) for maximum protection.

Galvalume® is still the preferred substrate for agricultural and equestrian buildings without ammonia exposure, such as riding arenas, hay storage, and equipment buildings. In these settings, its corrosion resistance delivers decades of reliable performance.

Beyond substrate selection, metal roofing offers several durability advantages that are especially important for rural operations. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) confirms that metal roofing achieves UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistance, the highest hail-resistance rating available. This helps reduce damage during severe-weather cycles and minimizes interruptions to feeding schedules, training routines, or animal care.

Metal roofing also performs exceptionally well in high-wind regions. Many standing seam systems are engineered and tested to resist wind speeds exceeding 140 mph, making them an ideal choice for wide-span barns, arenas, and rural buildings located in open fields.

Energy Efficiency That Supports Animal Comfort and Operating Budgets

Agricultural buildings experience high internal heat from animals, equipment, and solar gain. Metal roofing helps combat this in several ways.

By design, metal roofs with high solar reflectance and thermal emittance don't absorb as much heat, which helps keep attic and interior temperatures down. Together, those features can make a noticeable difference in comfort and cooling needs.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that reflective roofs can reduce surface temperatures by 50–60°F, lower indoor temperatures, and cut cooling energy demand by 10–25%, depending on climate.

For agricultural operations, especially dairy barns, poultry houses, and indoor training arenas, these reductions support animal health, productivity, and comfort.

Sustainability Benefits That Strengthen Modern Agricultural Operations

Sustainability isn't just a marketing trend; it's become a requirement for many agricultural suppliers and facility owners. Metal roofing supports these goals in several measurable ways.

According to the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), steel is the most recycled material in North America, with a reuse rate of more than 80%.

This creates a closed-loop lifecycle that reduces waste, which the EPA reports contributes millions of tons to landfills annually.

Metal roofing also pairs perfectly with solar energy systems. McElroy Metal's standing seam roofs allow for solar attachments, protecting the roof warranty and ensuring long-term weather integrity.

The roof's 60-year lifespan aligns well with the life expectancy of photovoltaic systems, allowing agricultural operations to maximize their renewable-energy investment without worrying about roof replacement interrupting power production.

Metal-Over-Existing Systems Keep Operations Running

Agricultural operations run on tight, inflexible schedules. Animals require feeding and care on time. Training schedules for horses can't pause for construction, and poultry houses must maintain climate control without interruption.

Metal roofing shines here, too. Retrofit and recover systems allow a new metal roof to be installed over the old roofing system without requiring tear-off.

This approach:

• Minimizes disruption to animals and staff
• Reduces noise, dust, and airborne debris
• Keeps buildings weather-tight throughout construction
• Eliminates disposal costs and landfill waste
• Cuts project timelines significantly

All of which makes roofing upgrades far more manageable.

A Practical Path Forward for Agricultural and Equestrian Facilities

At the end of the day, most agricultural and equestrian facility owners aren't looking for flashy promises; they just want a roofing system that performs the way it should, holds up to daily use, and supports the long-term goals of their operation. Metal roofing offers that kind of dependability. Its long service life, structural strength, and compatibility with energy-saving practices allow owners to stay focused on their animals and their business instead of dealing with recurring roofing issues.

What ultimately sets metal roofing apart is how well it respects the natural rhythm of animal environments. Horses, cattle, poultry, and other livestock are highly sensitive to sudden noise, and the commotion of roofing work—drills, fasteners, material handling—can elevate stress levels, disrupt routines, and negatively impact breeding performance and production outputs. Because metal roofing lasts significantly longer than traditional materials, those noisy construction events occur far less often. Fewer disruptions translate into calmer animals, steadier productivity, and a more predictable environment for owners and staff alike.

Every facility is different, but the common thread is clear: investing in a durable, low-maintenance roofing system creates long-term stability. It reduces the number of surprises owners must navigate and gives them more control over future planning. For agricultural and equestrian buildings that work hard every day, that kind of reliability is a major advantage.