Karen Willcox wrote:

Could a roofless shed be made into a sukkah by adding an appropriate roof? Thanks for your help!

Dear Karen,

Schach - The roof of a Sukkah - must be something that grew from the ground but is no longer attached to the ground. Also, it may not be made from food (like sugar cane) or from an implement (like wood broken from a chair or bed).

These limitations apply only to the schach, but not to the walls. Therefore, a roofless shed can be made into a Sukkah by adding a "kosher" roof - such as bamboo canes, wooden slats, or as the widespread custom in Israel - palm fronds. It's preferable that the material directly supporting the roof also be suitable for schach. Therefore if the shed is metal you should put a piece of wood on top of the metal surface, and put the banches on the wood.

Source:

• Shulchan Aruch O.C. 629:1,7.

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