I haven't done this, or know anyone who has, but that sounds like a very original idea. Maybe one problem may be making it leak-proof, as I'm guessing these would be placed on as separate "tiles". I'm thinking that the job would also be very labour-intensive.

But good luck, as I'm sure it will be a charmer if you decide to go ahead with the "tin" roof.

Hi Lonna, afraid I have no advice, but sure hope to see the shed when done. It sounds delightful.

Karen

Hi and that is a really original idea. Don't have any knowledge either but I would think if you still used the tar paper, and then when you put your can's down made sure they overlapped well. It should work! Thanks for coming up with such a wonderful idea. I would just let them rust myself. Geez, your so original. *grin*

Donna

I saw a man do this on TV! It was on one of those shows about out of the ordinary houses or interesting things in America or something like that.

It looked really good! (Well, I thought so anyway)

And so did he. He wanted to do an entire building of it, a little building out back like a garage or something, but I think if I remember right, his wife was protesting so he did the part under the peak of the roof. It looked like in the days of "gingerbread" trim on the houses where they sometimes did a shingle that looked like fish scales in that triangle at the peak of the house. Hard to explain, do you know what I'm talking about?

He left his cans whole but smashed them at kind of an angle. And overlapped them just like shingles.

well, tell you DH that we think it is a supurb idea It is absolutely divine. (see my little pinky in the air?) Seriously it is an outstanding idea. People have always used the cans as patches for the walls and roofs so why can't you do it all. I agree the underneath tar paper as in a normal roof. I think the can cut will cover more area. Get a lot of those with colorful designs on them also to put in selected areas. Make sure you put a roof cap on of cans last thing. I see no reason it should leak. Use roofing nails that have the strip or rubber washer like thing under the head and that will seal the holes just fine. How great will that look. And save the bottoms and top to make designs on fences as in flowers and borders and such. maybe make a scolloped edge on the roof. Keep pictures of the process and give us a good look at it as you go along. Welcome to our corner of the world and GO LONNA, git er built.

Ever hear of a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? Tin roofs have been around for a long time. I always thought of them as being corrugated or in sheets but I did find that they also made shingles out of tin. Below is a website showing embossed tin shingles that I think could be inspiration for your can idea. I think it would look very cool. I hope you are able to get it built and show us a picture!

Here is a link that might be useful: Roof Menders Tin Shingles

It just dawned on me-the ones I saw on TV were aluminum cans not tin. But it's the same idea. Here's a link to an example I just found-it's not the one I saw before though.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Can Do House

Sounds like a great way to use cans.
I'm not real clear on the reason the ends need to be cut off unless it's to have a larger "shingle". The cans will still flatten nicely and I think would hold their shape better if the ends are left, they might stiffen the "shingles" too.
Also with the ends left on, sharp cut edges wouldn't be a problem but that may not be an issue for a roof.
Of course they'll be smaller that a cut can.....perhaps the cut cans can be used for the ridge cap? Decisions, decisions.
I can't wait to see pics of this, good luck!

What a GREAT idea! I love the idea of taking the ends off and just flattening them that way. If you wanted to add interest you could bend the two corners that would show under so that it looks kind of like the top of a dog eared fence board. That would make it a little more interesting without making it too much more time intensive.

Post pics!

~~Mimi

Cans come in all different sizes. Are you going to try to get all one size or are you going to use different size cans? Some have 'ribs' on the can, some don't. Will you use all ribbed, none ribbed, or use the ribs to make a design?

The way my husband drinks Mountain dew in the can, I would have enough to side my house in no time.

pLEASE FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE, but what comes in tin cans and what comes in aluminum? Aluminum are soda cans, rihgt? And tin cans will rust?

Its funny you would bring up rusting. I was talking to a welder about the cans (veggie) And he says they will rust..which I knew that. But he says they won't last even as long as it takes me to cut them all out. :o) I still think by painting them with a protector it might work. What did all of those people do in the old days????? You know, I just might say the heck with it and plant the roof. :O) THANKS again for your ideas! Lonna

The only negative thing I can think of might be that for all the work you go to, it may rust faster than some other tins. I haven't seen too many tin cans last too long once the rust sets in.

Is there some sort of sealer you could use to preserve your hard work?

patti

Why don't you use aluminium cans? I think they'd be easier to work with than tin/veggie cans.

HI!
Tins cans like from soups and veggies will rust, but you can seal them with clr spray paint or polyurethane.
Aluminum soda cans wont rust, They also arent as sturdy, but they will lay flatter, you can seal them down with silicone and maybe get better water seal. They are colorful, BUT the sun fades the color quickly. You can turn em over and use the silver side.
The tin cans these days, most are coated on the inside with an epoxy resin, usually it has a goldish cast that helps it not to rust on the back side.
Its a great recycling idea. You can get Big cans from schools or restaurants, you would need fewer of these. And you could paint it when finished with that old silver paint they used on tin roofs. go for it!

Sounds very clever I think. I have found tin cans out in the forest from old logging camps that while rusty are still in great shape some 50-60 years later... The only thing I would say is start from the bottom and work up so you overlap correctly, thus keeping down the leak potential. Also easier to work than trying to fit under existing cans if you work from top down. You place as you go and rain wouldn't be as likely to go under but just down....

I would remommend placing a 'real' roof under anything like cans. It wouldn't cost much to roof it with paper and shingles, which don't cost much. Shingles show up on the side of the road often for free. Check constructions sites. They throw lots of them away. Don't be afraid to ask. Once it's roofed, there will be no leaking problem, period.

I like to paint metal with alkyd paint. It's oil based industrial paint, and can be found at all the big paint and hardware stores, and also at Habitat Restores and other stores like them. If you find it at Habitat, it will be far less expensive. Even if you don't paint or seal it, the roof underneath will take care of any problems and won't show under the cans. If the cans start to deteriorate beyond what you like, just replace them.

Just a note. If the roof is rusting, the rust will stain materials around it as water drips from it. Linda

Here is a good how-to on making your own shingles with aluminum cans.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Shingles-and-Siding-Out-of-Aluminum-Cans-Bee/

This was actually done during WWII and may make a comeback now that people are striving to recycle more and be greener. I wouldn't use beer cans because they are so thin (will tear in a heavy wind) but steel cans (Slim Fast, veggies, etc) will be there when you and I are long gone. Use roofing nails so there will be a rubber washer between the nail and the steel can to avoid premature rust. No, don't paint them, not if you want whimsical.

I saw this done with 1 quart oil cans. (Yeah once upon a time they were tin cans, not plastic.) My uncle built a small house, about 800 Sq ft or so and used tin cans on the roof. They collected and cut tin cans for a month or so. Wore out 3 can openers. This was about 1957 or so and the house is now a storage shed but the roof is original.

My idea is to get large cans from restaurant and do a 1600 Sq ft mobile home. I'm just in the planning stage now. Getting info and ideas. The comments here are most helpful. Be sure and check my Facebook page later to see if was a go or epic fail. Ken Brooks Albuquerque NM...

I used to live in a house with exterior walls shingled with old oil cans--from back when they were all metal. It must have been 40 or 50 years old when I lived there. The front was painted, but I could still see the labels on the back of the house, so they held up well. This was in Sacramento, which is pretty dry; a rainy or humid place might not work as well.

Prime, then paint them and they should last quite a while.