Re-roofing farm shed Ireland is one of the most common jobs we get called out for at Sullivan Steel, and for good reason. Most farm sheds in Ireland were built between the 1970s and 1990s, which means a huge number of them are now sitting on roofs and cladding that are well past their original design life. The steel sheeting was usually rated for 25–40 years depending on coating spec, and after four decades of Irish weather, the consequences are obvious — leaks, rust streaks, loose fixings, and in the worst cases sagging roof lines and corroded purlins.

The good news is that re-roofing a farm shed in Ireland is one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make to a working farm. You keep the existing structural steel, avoid planning permission in most cases, and end up with a building that’s good for another 30+ years. Here’s what’s involved and how to know when it’s time.

[Image suggestion: insert one of Sullivan’s existing project photos — the Duncormick round-roof job is ideal. Alt text: “Re-roofing farm shed Ireland — Sullivan Steel stripping and re-sheeting an agricultural roof in Co. Wexford”]

Warning Signs Your Farm Shed Needs Re-Roofing in Ireland

It’s rarely one big issue that triggers a re-roof. It’s usually a creeping list of small problems that finally tip into “we need to do something about this.” Watch for:

• Visible rust through the roof or cladding sheets — particularly along laps, around fixings, and at the eaves
• Recurring leaks, especially after heavy rain or wind-driven rain from a particular direction
• Daylight visible through the roof when you’re standing inside the shed
• Loose, missing or rattling sheets — usually a sign that the original fixings have rusted through
• Damaged or missing flashings at ridges, eaves and gable ends
• Sagging roof line — usually a structural issue rather than a sheeting one, and a sign you need a contractor to inspect the trusses
• Persistent damp or condensation damaging stored feed, machinery or livestock conditions

If you’re seeing two or three of these, you’re at the point where patching individual sheets is throwing good money after bad. A full shed re-sheeting in Ireland is usually cheaper over a 5-year horizon than ongoing repairs.

Re-Roof, Re-Clad, or Both? Understanding the Difference

These are three different jobs, often confused:

Re-roofing farm shed ireland means stripping and replacing just the roof sheeting (and usually the ridge cappings, flashings and guttering at the same time). This is the most common job on Irish farms because roofs take the brunt of the weather.

Re-cladding an agricultural shed means replacing the wall sheeting. Walls usually last longer than roofs because they don’t take ponding water, but they’re vulnerable at the base where they meet the concrete and at any point where livestock contact has damaged them.

Full re-sheet means doing both at once. If your shed is 30+ years old and the roof is going, the cladding usually isn’t far behind — and doing both together is significantly cheaper than two separate jobs because you only pay for site setup, MEWP hire, and mobilisation once.

What’s Involved in Re-Roofing a Farm Shed in Ireland

A typical farm shed roof replacement on a 60×40 ft building runs over 3–7 working days depending on size, weather and the condition of the existing structure. The sequence looks like this:

1. Site assessment and quote. A contractor visits, inspects the structure and gives you a written quote with a clear scope. If anything is being excluded — like truss repairs or rotten timber purlins — it should be spelled out.
2. Strip the existing roof. Old sheeting is removed and either taken off-site for recycling or, if it contains asbestos cement (common on pre-1999 sheds), removed under HSA-compliant procedures.
3. Inspect and repair the structure. This is the bit that catches people out. Once the sheeting is off, you can see the trusses and purlins properly for the first time in decades. Sometimes everything’s fine. Sometimes there are corroded trusses, rotten timber purlins or missing bracing that need to be addressed before you re-sheet.
4. Install new purlins where needed. If the existing purlin layout doesn’t match modern sheet specifications, additional steel purlins may need to be added.
5. Lay new sheeting. Modern fibre-cement or coated steel sheeting is fitted with proper fasteners, sealed laps and end closures.
6. Fit new flashings, gutters and downpipes. This is where shortcuts kill the longevity of the job. Cheap flashings or reusing old guttering will cause leaks within a couple of years.
7. Final inspection and clean-up. All offcuts, old fixings and debris removed from site.

[Image suggestion: insert a “during construction” photo here. Alt text: “Farm shed roof replacement in progress — new steel sheeting being installed on agricultural building, Sullivan Steel Ireland”]

Roof Sheeting Options for Re-Roofing a Farm Shed in Ireland

The two main choices for re-roofing a farm shed in Ireland are:

Fibre-cement sheeting — the traditional choice. Breathable, doesn’t sweat, lasts 40+ years, and works well for livestock buildings where condensation is a concern. Heavier than steel and more brittle to handle, but a known quantity on Irish farms.

Coated steel sheeting — typically galvanised steel with a polyester or PVC coating. Lighter, faster to install, and available in a wider range of colours and profiles. Modern coatings are rated for 30–40 year lifespans on agricultural use. Better for grain stores, machinery sheds and dry buildings; less ideal for damp livestock environments unless you specify an anti-condensation backing.

For most working farms, the answer is fibre-cement on livestock buildings and coated steel on machinery and storage sheds. A good contractor will advise based on what you’re using each shed for. Teagasc has useful guidance on agricultural building specifications worth reading before you commit to a spec.

Do You Need Planning Permission for Re-Roofing a Farm Shed?

Re-roofing and re-cladding an existing agricultural building usually doesn’t require planning permission, provided you’re replacing like with like and not extending or significantly changing the structure. If you’re changing the height, footprint or use of the building, that’s a different conversation and you should check with your local authority before starting.

What Re-Roofing a Farm Shed in Ireland Typically Costs

Working numbers for 2026:

• Roof-only re-sheet, small shed (40×30 ft): €5,000–€10,000
• Roof-only re-sheet, medium shed (60×40 ft): €10,000–€18,000
• Full re-sheet (roof and walls), large shed (80×50 ft): €20,000–€40,000
• Truss repairs and structural work: typically €1,500–€8,000 on top, depending on what’s needed

Asbestos sheeting removal adds significantly to the cost — usually €3,000–€8,000 for a typical farm shed — because of the HSA-compliant disposal requirements. If your shed was built before 1999, factor this in.

[Image suggestion: insert a completed re-roof photo. Alt text: “Completed farm shed re-sheeting in Ireland — agricultural building with new roof and flashings by Sullivan Steel”]

The Bottom Line on Re-Roofing a Farm Shed in Ireland

If your farm shed is leaking, rusting through or losing sheets, you’ve got a 12–24 month window before the problem starts costing you in damaged stock, machinery or livestock conditions. Re-roofing a farm shed in Ireland is a one-week job that buys you another 30+ years of working life out of the building, and it’s almost always cheaper than building new.

Sullivan Steel carries out farm shed re-roofing and re-cladding across Ireland from our base in Wexford. If you’ve a shed that’s seen better days, send us a few photos and we’ll give you a straight answer on what it needs and what it’ll cost.