Re-Roof an Old Pole Barn With New Steel — Tear Off and Re-Sheet
The old barn roof is rusted at the laps, pocked with hail, and leaking at every row of nails. The frame is still good. Here is how it gets new steel.
To re-roof an old pole barn with new steel, JMB Builders tears off the rusted or hail-hit sheets, checks and repairs the purlins and trusses, adds new purlins where the spacing or wood is bad, and installs new ribbed steel with gasketed screws, ridge cap, trim and closures. Farm and hobby barns across the north metro and central Minnesota, priced per project after a site visit.
- Priced per project after a site visit
- Old steel off, purlins and trusses checked
- New ribbed steel, trim and closures
- Condensation control added when wanted
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
Old pole barn roofs wear out from the fasteners first, then the steel: rust at the end laps and the bottom edge, pinholes, hail dents that hold water, and paint worn to bare metal. When fasteners alone will not stop the leaks, the roof needs new steel. The frame under it, posts, trusses and purlins, is often still good.
The job: old steel off in sections so the building is never open wide to weather. Purlins are checked for rot, splits and loose nailing; bad ones are replaced, and extra purlins are added where the old spacing is too wide for new steel or for the snow load. Trusses are looked at from above while the roof is open, and cracked chords or loose webs are repaired, with an engineer's letter when a truss is broken. Then new ribbed steel goes on with gasketed screws, new ridge cap, eave and rake trim and closures.
Laying new steel over old is sometimes done, but it hides rotten purlins, adds weight and makes fastening a guess. We tear off. If the barn drips from condensation, this is the time to add a vapor barrier under the new steel or order steel with a condensation backing, so ask about it before the order goes in.
What you supply
- Photos of the roof, inside looking up at the trusses and purlins, and any leak spots
- The building length, width and height, and roughly how old it is
- Your steel color choice for roof and trim from the current chart
- Equipment moved or covered under the roof on work days
What JMB supplies
- Site visit to measure and check the frame
- Tear-off of the old steel and fasteners, and disposal
- Purlin repair or replacement, and added purlins where needed
- Truss repair where found, with an engineer's letter when a truss is broken
- New ribbed steel roof panels with gasketed screws, ridge cap, eave and rake trim, closures
- Vapor barrier or condensation-backed steel when you want it
- Permit when the job needs one, fall protection, and photos in your job folder
How it is priced: per project
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Roof area, pitch and eave height
- Purlins to replace or add once the old steel is off
- Truss repairs found with the roof open
- Steel gauge, color and any condensation backing
- Ridge vents, skylight panels or snow guards
- Access for a lift around the building
Photos from inside looking up at the purlins and trusses tell us the most before the site visit.
How long it takes
Most farm and hobby barns: two to five days on site depending on size and frame repairs.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Re-Roof an Old Pole Barn With New Steel — Tear Off and Re-Sheet: questions, answered
How do you re-roof an old pole barn with new steel?
The old steel comes off in sections, the purlins and trusses are checked and repaired, purlins are added where the spacing is too wide, and new ribbed steel goes on with gasketed screws, ridge cap, trim and closures. The building is never left open wider than can be closed the same day.
Can new steel go over the old steel on a pole barn roof?
It is sometimes done, but we tear off. Laying over hides rotten or split purlins, adds weight to trusses that were built for one layer, and makes it hard to hit solid wood with every screw. Tearing off lets us see and fix the frame.
Do the purlins need to be replaced when re-roofing a pole barn?
Only the bad ones. Purlins with rot, splits or stripped screw holes are replaced, and extra purlins are added where the old spacing is too wide for new steel or the snow load. Most of the purlins on a sound barn are reused.
Should I add a vapor barrier when I re-roof my pole barn?
If the barn drips from condensation in winter, yes. A vapor barrier under the new steel or steel with a condensation backing keeps warm, moist air from reaching the cold steel. It has to go in with the new roof; it cannot be added under steel that is already on.
Is it worth re-roofing an old pole barn?
When the posts and trusses are sound, yes; new steel on a good frame costs far less than a new building. When the posts are rotted and trusses are broken too, compare the total repair to a new building before deciding. We tell you what we see on the site visit.
Does insurance pay to re-roof a hail damaged pole barn?
It depends on the policy and whether hail damage is covered for farm buildings. Photograph the roof and call your insurer. When the claim is approved, we price the re-roof from the adjuster's scope and walk the roof with the adjuster if needed.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All pole barns pages
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