A different approach to roofing is the tin roof.   This style is wonderfully realistic for sheds, abandoned houses, themed houses or rural buildings.  It’s also very, very easy to make. 

You’ll need a roll of aluminum foil, a fabric pleater or piece of corrugated cardboard and paint in grey, orange and brown.

Cut the aluminum foil into varied sizes of rectangles.  Keep in mind that tin roofs were usually made of scrap tin so there are a variety of sizes and the edges may not always be even.

To achieve the ripple effect of tin, lay a rectangle of foil on top of the pleater or corrugated cardboard and gently smooth it down to create ridges in the foil. Lift the foil by the edges and set it to one side.  Continue with this process with each piece of foil.   Handle the foil carefully so you don’t flatten the ridges.  Don’t worry if you end up with some flat spots or wrinkles since that adds to the realistic look of the tin.

Spray glue works best for attaching the foil to the roof since you don’t want to flatten out the ripples.  Give the backside of the foil an even spray of glue and lay it down on the roof.  The first piece should be on the bottom of the roof, flush with both the side edge and the bottom edge.  Continue this process, staggering the size of the foil.  The second row should be offset from the first row just as you do with regular shingles. Intermittently place another piece of foil over two others as if the roof had been patched.  To give a realistic look, randomly turn some of the pieces of foil over so the dull side is up instead of the shiny side.