Stable roof refurb

[stimpy]

I have a 3 box stable block that is pretty ancient, it is built of block on the back and sides and wood at the front. The roof is currently onduline and is in terrible condition, I would estimate that it is at least ten years past its useful life. We need to replace the roof sharpish, we won't use onduline again but we are getting quotes for fibre cement (which I love but will require a huge amount of strengthening of the roof structure) and also two different types of steel roofing, one a corrugated profile with plasticised top face and the anti-condensation coating on the underside, and a box profile with a powder exterior and anti-condensation coating underneath. Does anyone have experience to share about similar steel roofing? The two things I am most interested in are:
a) noise - how much noisier is it than onduline or thick sheets like fibre cement? Do horses get spooked by heavy rain or hail or do they adjust?
b) condensation - does the coating work?

Any experiences gratefully received!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I would be mindful of any planning requirements from your local council (depends how strict they are), when we were in the UK, we were only allowed onduline or similar product, fibre cement and steel were not allowed (and they certainly kept an eye on our area!

Having had a barn with a steel roof, I wouldn’t recommend it from a noise level when it rains or hails.

You may be just better to replace like for like. It’s about a fifteen year lifespan when fitted properly. There’s usually deals online but the last time we bought it in the UK, B&Q had it on offer.

 

[Vodkagirly]

We bought a place with a damaged stable roof last year. Kept getting let down by contractors so ended up replacing it ourselves. I found the onduline very easy to work with.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If you put onduline over a lining layer of waterproof boarding, it lasts much better. This field shelter is now 15 years old, and the roof is still good. Bonus point of onduline is that it is light and easy to handle for diy work, if you had to go down that route.

 

[Carrottom]

We replaced an onduline roof with box profile with the anti condensation lining. It is a bit louder if it really hammers down, one of our boys gets a bit agitated but he did with old roof. The other two are fine and the really noisy stuff doesn't usually last long.

 

[tda]

Ooh timely post, just about to start planning replacemnt of our field shelter/stable roof. Its 14 years old. The onduline has drooped, quite badly in one spot.
I was also thinking of staying with the easy to use onduline and boarding underneath to support it.

 

[stimpy]

Thanks for all your comments. I am really loathe to revert to Onduline, I collect the rainwater from the roof into a IBC tank and it's never clean from an Onduline roof and the bitumen worries me as I plan to use it as drinking water. Seems my fear about the noise on a steel roof may be warranted, I really don't know what to do now

 

[Ownedby4horses]

OP, wondering if you could get something similar look to onduline but PVC coated (they’re obviously shiny), it means they’re lightweight and you won’t have to upgrade roofing supports etc and you don’t have the worry for collecting water. Just a very swift google: https://www.roofingsheetsbyrhino.com/product/black-pvc-scintilla-golf-ball-effect/

im not sure what these are made of (all pvc or something coated) but you could call and ask.

I would be mindful of the composition of fibre cement sheets, theyre used as house roofing over here and we’ve got all of our barns roofed in them, I don’t collect any rainwater as they have asbestos in them, so you definitely don’t want to collect rainwater from them.
https://www.asbestos.com/products/asbestos-sheets/

obviously this is a US site but they still manufacture them worldwide to use as roofing (and ours are definitely called fibre cement sheets). So check what you buy doesn’t contain asbestos.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I have ondaline with boards underneath on my stables, currently 6 years old and doing very well, and steel with no lining in barn, and steel with non drip fleece stuff on Nevillery (tunnel field shelter) the roof of Nevillery is a little noisy, but doesn't stop horses using it, but I can't say the barn is terribly noisy when hiding in it from rain. Maybe its something to do with the height of roof that dulls the sound? I would certainly consider steel with fleece if ever replaced the stable roof

Ps, hi Stimpy!

 

[scruffyponies]

Can't stand onduline. Soggy, sagging useless stuff. Fixings tear right through it, and it's only as good as what you support it with, which trebles the cost.

Tin is much better. Easy to work with, light weight and will stand solid for 50 years.

 

[Reacher]

I have box profile sheeting on my stables - I like it and haven't noticed the horses being bothered by the noise of rain. We get a lot of rain... Mind you it is fitted on top of the old felt roof with some extra padding in places so maybe the sound is dampened

 

[scruffyponies]

You could use insulated box profile, which would be quiet and durable.

 

[Goldenstar]

My internal stables are in a tall barn with box profile with a anti condensation coating it works perfectly .

 

[Honey08]

We changed our 14 year old onduline roof two years ago. The contractor suggested anti condensation tin roofing. Only he forgot and put normal tin, so it drips a lot on frosty days. It is a LOT noisier. My gelding (who is generally a chilled chap) hates hail or heavy rain on it. The other issue is it gets a lot hotter. The swallows usually lay in our stables and nothing survived last year, they all fell out of the nest. It was during the heatwave and I’m sure they tried to escape the heat from the roof above them.
We had a further stable put up the following year. They used ondine with wood underneath. They did say that my previous onduline roof, done by a different company that didn’t have wood under it was just as good as a roof with wood under because there were lots of struts and they were close together.
I would go for the concrete (or even tiles) if I could afford the reinforcement work needed.

 

[stimpy]

You guys are great with your suggestions and feedback Totally contrasting views but thank you one and all!

 

[stimpy]

PS hi ElleSkywalker! It's been a while since foal watch

 

[benjaminrenaud]

Hello, what kind of rood can you recommend for re-building guys? At this moment we have the ren metal of roof and we thinking about optima arad from here https://litcore.ie/roofing.