CHAPTER 30 — Early Roofing in Canadian Farm Outbuildings: Sheds, Granaries & Silos (1800s–1930s)

Across rural Canada, small but essential farm outbuildings — including grain sheds, tool houses, storage barns, and early silos — required practical and weather-resistant roofing systems. These roofs were built to withstand constant exposure, protect valuable resources, and be repaired easily by farmers using available materials.

Why Farm Outbuilding Roofing Was Unique

• Low construction budgets: Farmers built roofs using materials available on-site.
• High exposure: These structures sat in open fields with no wind protection.
• Functional priority: Appearance mattered less; durability mattered most.
• Frequent repairs: Roofs had to be quickly fixable after storms or wind damage.

Common Roofing Materials for Farm Outbuildings

1. Cedar & Pine Shingles

Farmers used wood shingles because they were cheap, abundant, and easy to install. These were common on sheds, grain houses, and chicken coops.

2. Corrugated Metal Roofing

By the late 1800s, corrugated steel became the preferred material for grain sheds, machinery houses, and early silos due to its strength and resistance to rot.

3. Slab Wood Plank Roofs

Farmers often used leftover rough-cut planks from milling operations to create quick, functional roofing.

4. Early Asphalt Roll Roofing

Low-slope outbuildings used roll roofing, an affordable waterproofing material made from asphalt-saturated felt.

Roof Shapes in Farm Outbuildings

• Gable roofs for most storage structures.
• Shed roofs for quick, single-slope buildings.
• Hip roofs for more permanent grain structures.
• Conical or domed roofs for early wooden silos.

Climate Adaptations

Roofs were tailored based on regional environments:

• Pitched roofs in snow-heavy areas like Ontario & Quebec.
• Storm-resistant fasteners in Prairie wind corridors.
• Extra decking in wetter Maritime climates.

Historical Importance

Though often overlooked, outbuilding roofs were vital to the success of early Canadian farming. They protected grain, livestock feed, equipment, and tools — ensuring families could survive long winters and harsh weather. Many examples still stand today as part of Canada’s agricultural heritage landscape.

This chapter is part of the ROOFNOW™ Canadian Roofing History Archive.