Commercial and agricultural
Barns, shops and storefronts: the same work at a bigger scale
Lancaster County is farms and small businesses. Fox Gables puts metal roofs on barns, sheds and shops, builds porches on storefronts, and does the siding, soffit, gutter and window work that keeps a small commercial building looking cared for, scheduled around your operation.
In short
Most of what Fox Gables does for businesses and farms is the same work as on houses, on a bigger building with a different schedule. A metal roof on a 40-by-100 barn is a layout job and a few days of panels. A porch across a storefront is a porch, built so customers can get in dry and the business can stay open while it goes up. New windows and gutters on a shop are windows and gutters.
The laundromat in Womelsdorf on the projects page is the typical commercial job: a covered porch across the front, new soffit and fascia, seamless gutters, two new windows and one framed in, all done around the store's busy hours.
Agricultural buildings
Barns, equipment sheds, poultry and livestock buildings, and shops.
- New ribbed metal roofs on purlins, including replacing rotted purlins and adding ridge ventilation
- New metal over existing metal where the structure allows, on furring
- Metal siding on pole buildings, with new trim and wainscot
- Repairs: loose fasteners, failed laps, wind-damaged panels, rusted trim
- Sliding and overhead doors, man doors and windows on outbuildings
- Gutters and downspouts sized for long roof runs
Small commercial buildings
Storefronts, offices, shops, restaurants, laundromats and the like.
- Covered entries and storefront porches with proper footings and railings
- Shingle, metal and membrane roofs on small commercial buildings
- Siding, trim wrap, soffit and fascia
- Replacement windows and commercial entry doors
- Interior fit-out carpentry: framing, drywall, doors, trim
- Work scheduled around business hours so you stay open
How commercial jobs are handled
Commercial work gets a written scope and schedule before anything starts. Josh walks the building with you, measures, and writes an estimate with the materials named. For roofs on occupied buildings the job is sequenced so no section is open overnight. For storefronts the heavy work happens outside peak hours. Permits for commercial work differ from residential and Josh handles the filings with the township.
Fox Gables is a small company, which means Josh is on the job rather than managing it from an office. For buildings up to the size of a typical barn or a one-story commercial building that is an advantage. For a large multi-building project he will tell you if it is beyond what a small crew should take on.
Price guide
What this usually costs
Rough ranges for common commercial and agricultural jobs in Lancaster and Lebanon counties, 2026. Every job is quoted after a site visit.
- Ribbed metal roof on a barn or shop, per square, on existing purlins
- $400 to $700
- Purlin replacement, per linear foot
- $6 to $12
- Metal siding on a pole building, per square
- $350 to $600
- Covered storefront porch, 8 by 30 feet
- $14,000 to $28,000
- Membrane roof on a flat commercial roof, per square
- $650 to $1,000
- Commercial seamless gutters, per linear foot
- $10 to $18
Access, height, occupancy and the condition of the structure underneath are what move a job within these ranges.
On the job
Storefront porch, Womelsdorf 
Interior carpentry in a timber-frame building 
Metal roofing is the standard on county barns
How a job goes
From the first call to the walkthrough
- 1
Call or send the form
Josh calls back the same day, usually within a couple of hours. Tell him what is going on and he will ask a few questions.
- 2
Josh comes out and looks
On the roof, in the attic, under the deck. He measures, takes photos, and brings samples in the truck. No sales presentation.
- 3
You get a written estimate
Materials named by brand, the scope spelled out, a price that does not expire at midnight. Over $500 it is a written contract, as Pennsylvania requires.
- 4
The work gets done
Materials delivered, the job done by Josh with help as the job needs, the site cleaned every day, permits and inspections handled.
- 5
Walkthrough, then you pay
Josh walks the finished job with you. Anything on the list gets done. Final payment when you are satisfied.
Related projects
This work, on real houses
Womelsdorf · Berks County
New front porch, soffit, gutters and windows for a laundromat
A commercial storefront in Womelsdorf got a new covered porch, soffit, gutters and two new windows.
Lancaster County · Lancaster County
Metal roofing on a Lancaster County farmhouse and outbuilding
Dark ribbed metal panels on a two-story farmhouse, plus a large metal roof on an agricultural building.
Questions people ask
Do you do large commercial roofs?
Fox Gables takes on barns, shops and one- and two-story commercial buildings. For very large flat roofs or multi-building projects Josh will say if it is beyond a small crew.
Can you work while the business is open?
Yes. The Womelsdorf laundromat stayed open through its porch, gutter and window job. Work is sequenced around your hours.
Do you replace roofs on barns with livestock inside?
Yes, with planning. The job is sequenced so animals are not under open roof and debris is controlled.
Are agricultural buildings permitted differently?
In most townships, yes. Josh checks the requirements for your building and handles the filing.
Do you provide a certificate of insurance?
Yes. A certificate from Frederick Mutual can be issued to the property owner before work begins.
Free estimate
Get a number, not a pitch.
Tell Josh what the house needs. He will call back, come out, measure, and give you a written estimate with the materials named.
(717) 598-7728Calls and texts answered seven days a week. Estimates by appointment, Monday to Saturday.
PA HIC #PA125031 · Insured