Which Roofing Sheet Is Best For Stables?

If you own a stable, the roof is probably one of the last things you think about, after all, day‑to‑day care, feeding and general maintenance will always take priority. Yet the roof is one of the most important parts of any stable or agricultural building, and when it begins to fail, the impact on the structure and the welfare of the animals inside can be significant.

A strong, well‑maintained roof helps protect horses and livestock from harsh weather throughout the year, whether that’s intense summer sunlight, heavy rain, freezing winds or winter snowfall. It also helps regulate internal temperatures, keeps bedding dry, and can even reduce noise levels, which is something many animals are particularly sensitive to. In short, a dependable roof creates a safer, calmer and more comfortable environment for the animals in your care.

Choosing the right roofing sheet plays a big part in achieving this. Different materials offer varying benefits in terms of durability, cost, ease of installation, and overall longevity. In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most popular roofing sheet options for stables, helping you find the best solution for your building, your budget and, most important of all, your animals.

If you’re looking for a roofing material that is weather‑resistant and durable for your stable or agricultural building, metal roofing sheets are an excellent choice. Available in a wide range of profiles and coatings, including box profile, corrugated, tile form and standing seam, with finishes such as polyester paint, PVC plastisol, GreenCoat® Pural BT and plain galvanised steel, metal sheets offer exceptional flexibility in colour, appearance and budget. Not only affordable, but they are also a long‑lasting solution for re‑roofing stables and barns when compared with more expensive materials like bitumen and clay or concrete roof tiles. If you want to learn more about the variety of metal roof sheet coatings, be sure to check out our full range of coatings.

Corrugated metal sheets, with their instantly recognisable wavy design, remain a popular choice for stables, barns and agricultural buildings wanting a traditional aesthetic. Box profile sheets, available at Cladco in both 32/1000 and 34/1000 profiles, create a more modern appearance and offer increased water run‑off capability.

For an even more contemporary finish, standing seam sheets provide a sleek, minimalist look. Tile form sheets, meanwhile, combine the charm of traditional roof tiles with the low‑maintenance, affordability and ease of installation associated with metal roofing.

Metal roof sheets offer several practical benefits, including:

• High levels of water run‑off and improved stability over bitumen‑based materials
• Versatility in style and application
• Low‑maintenance, long‑lasting durability
• Suitability for DIY projects
• Strong resistance to harsh weather

At Cladco, box profile and corrugated sheets are available in 0.5mm and 0.7mm thicknesses, while tile form sheets are produced in 0.6mm and standing seam sheets in 0.7mm. Sheet thickness influences how much load a sheet can support, with thicker sheets generally offering greater strength and rigidity. Roofing applications typically benefit from higher‑thickness sheets, especially on wider spans or exposed sites, whereas wall cladding can often use thinner gauges depending on the required performance and design.

While plain galvanised sheets are the most affordable option, smooth polyester paint‑coated sheets offer excellent value for those wanting extra protection and colour choice, but working to tighter budgets, with five colour options available in both box profile and corrugated styles. For enhanced scratch resistance and a tougher surface finish, PVC plastisol‑coated sheets provide a high‑quality leather‑grain texture and are available in a wide range of colours. For a premium coating with excellent long‑term durability and resistance to corrosion, scratching, and UV fading, GreenCoat® Pural BT is another strong option.

A major consideration when choosing roofing sheets is whether your stable or barn needs natural light. If it does, GRP roof lights can be installed alongside metal roofing sheets to match the profile and bring diffused daylight into the building.

GRP translucent roof lights are manufactured from durable glass‑reinforced plastic and are designed to allow soft, natural light to filter into the interior. Thanks to their lightweight construction, these sheets are easy to handle, cut and fix, making them a practical option for both new builds and re‑roofing projects.

GRP roof lights offer several useful benefits:

• Allow diffused natural light to enter the stable or barn
• Lightweight sheets for easier handling during installation
• Strong, reinforced construction for everyday use
• UV‑stable gel‑coat finish for long‑lasting performance

Cladco translucent roof lights are available in both box profile and corrugated styles, so you can choose a profile that seamlessly matches your existing metal roof sheets.

As we touched on earlier, if you’re aiming to achieve an attractive pantile aesthetic, a feature typically seen on traditional stone stables and agricultural outbuildings, but want something far lighter and more affordable, tile form roofing sheets are a fantastic solution. Manufactured from strong steel and coated with highly durable GreenCoat® Pural BT, tile form sheets are extremely hard‑wearing and offer excellent resistance to challenging weather conditions.

Tile form sheets are generally priced higher per square metre than other metal roofing profiles due to the manufacturing process and specialist coating. GreenCoat® Pural BT is produced using patented Bio‑based Technology, where a significant proportion of traditional fossil oil is replaced with Swedish rapeseed oil, giving the coating a strong environmental advantage. It also provides excellent colour retention and corrosion resistance for long‑term performance.

When compared with individual clay pantiles or slate tiles, metal tile form sheets can significantly reduce labour time and installation costs. At around 6.6 kg/m², they are far lighter than traditional materials while still offering impressive lifespan and long‑term protection from the elements, making them particularly well‑suited for stable and barn roofs.

Bitumen, or roof felt as it’s more commonly known, is a low‑cost roofing material that offers decent short‑term weather resistance. However, longevity is its biggest drawback. Bitumen sheets often require multiple repairs throughout their life, which can range anywhere from just a few years up to around 10 years, depending on the conditions they are exposed to.

Performance can vary significantly with location. Stables situated in areas that experience prolonged spells of heavy rain, strong winds or beneath overhanging trees, where falling branches and debris are common, may find that bitumen sheets need more frequent maintenance.

To learn more about how metal roofing sheets can be used to cover a worn‑out felt roof, be sure to take a look at our blog here.

As you can see, choosing the best roofing material for your stable, barn or agricultural building depends on what matters most to you, whether that’s cost, appearance, ease of installation or long‑term durability. Each option has its own advantages, but metal roofing sheets stand out if you’re looking for a solution that delivers strong overall performance, long lifespan and excellent value for money.

With a variety of profiles, finishes and colours available, you can achieve a roof that not only protects your animals and provides a comfortable environment, but also complements the look of your building.

If you’d like to explore the differences between each type of roofing sheet in more detail, our roof sheet guide is a great place to start.

And when you’re ready to plan your project, you can also use our easy‑to‑use roofing calculator to work out exactly how many sheets and fixings you’ll need.