Make Shingles and Siding Out of Aluminum Cans (Beer Can Roof)

I haven't tested this long term but it seems to work on my chicken coop. Here's the rundown:
Using scissors or tin snips cut the ends off an aluminum soda/beer can and cut down the middle of the can to make a flat rectangular piece of aluminum. Then you lay the flat piece into the forming die and press it by stomping on it or hitting it with a hammer. In this Instructable I'll show how to make the die and then lay out the shingles on a roof.

Making these can be tedious but the end result is gratifying because the old cans are fulfilling an immediate second life. A 24"x24" roof area will use from 36 to 50 cans (excluding drip edge and caps) depending on the vertical spacing and shingle style; that comes to 900-1250 cans per roof square (10'x10'.)
Start drinking now if you plan to try this.

I've recently posted how to build the whole coop at Diylife.com

Materials:
Loads of uncrushed aluminum cans
Piece of 1x6 hardwood board
Two 1-foot 5/16" metal square rods

Tools:
Staple gun
Circular Saw, or Router, or Saw with Dado Blade
Tin Snips or Scissors
Square
Chisel
Hammer
Drill and bits
Gloves

Step 1: Prep Cans

Obtain your raw resources at a local party, drinking buddy, or community service highway clean-up. My neighbor is my steady supplier of uncrushed cans. I find beer cans are best because they don't have a sticky residue like soda cans.
This gets sharp, so wearing gloves is important. Use scissors or tin snips to cut the top off the can at the seam where the can bends. Cut down the center to the bottom and then cut off the bottom of the can. You should now have a rectangular piece of aluminum sheet metal. To ease the workload, precut these over time as you get the cans. One of the pics below shows the beginning of a can cutting machine; I hope it works because my hands are tired.

Comments

[foobear]

the only thing that scares me is the super bloody razor sharp edges you get when cutting up cans. If there were some easy way to roll the exposed edge and crimp it, that would be good.

[dxanith]

It's too bad the video listed here was marked private:(

[art_mogul]

I have worked with a man who has used flattened beer cans for roofing and siding on a couple of shed-like structures here in Huntsville Texas (70 mi north of Houston). The problem he ran into is that strong UV exposure breaks down the integrity of modern aluminum cans much more quickly than aluminum specifically manufactured for this application. Someone else has eluded to this as speculation in a comment below and I can confirm that this is true. That said even in South Texas the cans will comfortably hold up for 5 yrs or so. Wind can also be a problem in areas with strong UV exposure since the cans begin to flake apart when they break down. The older galvanized steel used in beer cans that are found in vintage beer can house construction hold up many magnitudes better. He has experimented with a number of materials, including plastics and the limiting factor is UV as opposed to other types of oxidation. This is a cool idea for small projects in less sunny places though. I have found that I can buy excess aluminum roofing scraps from a local scrap recycler which could be used as shingles. I hadn't thought of making a shaper. This is being discussed here http://www.phoenixcommotion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5 if anyone would like to chime in.

[robbtoberfest]

It's been over four years now, and they show no signs of wear. Just a few dents from hail damage.

[freewheel]

Okay, I'm a believer! I'll be roofing and sheathing my chicken coop in beer cans. I'll post the results.

[wolfkeeper]

I really, really doubt it''s UV. It's some sort of corrosion, particular if there's any salt in the air (there's always some salt), or other chemicals, some of which will be produced naturally by the atmosphere (particularly when it's sunny!)

[ThorsMitersaw]

would painting them after applying them help to block some of the UV?

[robbtoberfest]

These shingle don't look any different (except for the hail damage) than from the day I attached them on the roof. I think they are reflecting back most of the UV and painting them would only add unnecessary maintenance and absorb UV.

[jofuji]

I live in Australia where the sun would be a huge issue. Is there not a UV protective paint on the market that could protect the roof longer?

[robbtoberfest]

Three years strong and it still looks fine without paint. Unless you live on the coast where salt can cause problems, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Electrocanman]

I know I'm late to the discussion, but something I noticed in the video you posted is that you put the cans on with the label down. This probably has contributed to the longevity you've experienced. The lacquer inside of a pop/beer can is quite strong (it has to resist the acidity in cola, which is quite strong!). The side with the label isn't afforded such protection, as the ink used to label the cans doesn't require the same resistance.

[Wragie]

A lot of good instructibles really don't have any real world use, this does!

Pure alum corrodes literally instantly when exposed to oxygen and will shortly turn to powder. There are some mixes such as the 6000 series they use for believing ocean going boats as it doesn't corrode. If whatever was in there is acidic like tomato juice or oj its going to be corrosion resistant. If you can find galvinized steel tins thats another long term shingle in the making.

So has anyone figured out how many beer you have to drink to reshingle a roof? :-)

[freewheel]

So, a bit late to the party, but I think aluminum beer cans have a corrosion resistant coating which makes this even more enticing.

[rwarrich]

Nice idea, though like some, tar paper under would be a good plan. also, if you stapled/nailed at the halfway point of the can/shingle, you should be able to go through the top of the row below giving more strength to the fastening. with only one fastening point I would be worried about the wind 'peeling' them off.

[park47]

Thanks..It's inspiring..:)

[patron_zero]

Another great recovered-re purposed material DIY project, kudos and thanks for sharing such !

[meritsetgo]

great instructable, and might try with the steel coffee cans instead just because that is what i have available...mine come already "paintedblue with the coffee logo and what not on the facing side so that should provide an extra layer of protection even if it fades fast in a few months....

salt corrosion on thin and sheet aluminum is fairly nasty, a friend of mine who lives by the coast, replaces his window air conditioner unit every year and a half because the thin aluminum fins in the radiator just turn to dust,

Seeing the gauge of the cans are thinner or similar to the thickness used on radiator units, this might pose a problem long term but hey year and a half is plenty time to keep making replacement shingles!!!\

kudos for making an awesome instructable that is truly applicable in most parts of the world....

[lafnbear]

"Start drinking now if you plan to try this."

Just about the only Instructable where this sentence is acceptable...

[danava0056]

I'm building a tiny house on a couple acre lot in a remote location and trying to do it with as much reclaimed/found materials as possible. The roof had me stumped until I found your awesome plans. I am definately doing this. Would you sell me a die? I don't have the tools to make that and run all my lights, etc off a small solar system so I don't think a table saw would work. I'll start picking up cans while I wait for your reply :). Thanks.

[batonas]

Nice recycle man. RESPECT!

[CJSudduth]

How about using coffee can lids...or cans of any kind... ??

[robbtoberfest]

They are thicker metal and may be hard to form with this system.
Maybe with a press and stronger die. Good luck with it.

[brynda]

does anybody know how to make a coke can baseball cap out of coke cans? i would like to make one for myself. i love coca cole memorabilia, and would love to know any other ideas.

[alberto200031]

Indeed, it can be made by recyling the coke can through heating process. also known as Electrolysis, in which the well heated coke can melt at above 194 to 212 degree temperature.(boiling point). then set up a customized moulder, engraved with any sign/logo to cast with. while the cans already melt into liquid form. run to cast. and then become solidify again as it feel the air. this process has been used to produce many valuable material. domestically and industrial. let me know if you will like to get more update and tutorial practice analysis regarding this electrolysis.chloir -alkali chemical process. I can be of good help to you. then email me at ([e-mail]) or forward your email/site link. so that I can link you up with my online tutorial coaching blog. Regard. Alberto

[Ole bally]

The tins are opened flat as per our shingle idea, then each one is cut to the same pattern as the panels at the original cap design. A small leather punch is used to perforate the edges of each side of the now 'sorta' triangular can pieces about 5mm apart. Using a 'crochet' stitch, the cap is sewn together with wool...I will try to get a picture to show the finished product!

[tulekah]

dummy it with card stock untill you have the dims correct

[catboo22]

me too i collect coke stuff , i have a red banana seat lowrider bike with a coke sticker on de side and 13 glass coke bottles

[robbtoberfest]

That sounds like something that takes real artistic still..... uuuummm not in my backyard. LOL

[karen608]

I have an older screen door that is rusty and metal peeling up, and this made me realize that since it is on the north side of the house, I can redo it with opened up, flattened out aluminum cans, for SURE. Thanks for posting your roof, recycling at it's best.

[Audreyvgs]

I did this a couple of years ago, the logos fade fast, but that look was the "shabby type look I was going for. I wrapped the edges first, used staples, will look into the Monel type, don't know what that is. It's too hard, tho with a manual can opener. You'd give yourself carpal tunnel by the 100th one. I want a machine to cut the top and bottom off, leaving me the clean middle. Anybody know of one of these? My roof is still great on my bird cage after all this time outside.

[rlm98253]

I use a band saw.

[soulmisfit]

Thanks for your instructable! I also have a chicken coop with a wood roof and it needs better protection from the rain and sun. I'm going to try this or make a living roof. Either way a layer of aluminum cans will help.
I was just looking at tin cans halves for roofing material as well.

[Muzhik]

If you didn't bother to "mold" the cans, could you simply flattened the cans to use as siding for your house?

[rnipper28150]

This is a really good idea! I would be careful on those sunny days, though. That roof will be hot and the reflection off of it will be bright.

[mechanixman]

but even if the roof did heat up, a solar water heater will produce sooo much more HOT water!

[rnipper28150]

I was commenting on the reflectivity. There was a problem with a metal-skinned structure in LA, the bright reflection was actually blinding drivers and causing accidents. I think it was the LA opera house.

[consolidatedwm]

I agree that the roof would be hot but, the bulk of the heat would be reflected away from the roof I would think. This is a cool idea, maybe we should do an entire Guiness roof.......

[tulekah]

i'd sure love to help you gather material...but i'm on a diet

[karrock]

You could always kill off some cans of that Anheuser Busch Drinking Water... (and no I don't mean Bud Light)
http://www.anheuser-busch.com/press/2010/Jan/Anheuser-Busch-Delivers-Canned-Water-to-Assist-Perry-County.html

[caarntedd]

Excellent instructable and excellent discussion. I'm doing this.

[Ole bally]

This is an awesome idea well done on the instructable! I have had it in mind for a while myself but never gotten round to it! We have hundreds of tons of cans here in Zim that litter everywhere! I'm also making a bottle crusher that'll reduce the disposable beer bottles to river sand grain size for use in decorative cement work! These projects are great for income for handicapped folk and charitable institutions!

[Whamola]

Very cool idea. Time consuming, but cool. But yes, if you were planning to use this for more of a permanent structure for living or storage, using tar paper between the cans (er... shingles) and the wood would be the "proper" way of doing it. Good idea. Thanks

[tulekah]

how about skipping the internal ridges and just put a 90 along each edge? a simble bending brake job and faster.

[awupper]

Won't the steel staples rust away quickly due to galvonic corrosion?

[robbtoberfest]

The only place I've got a problem with corrosion is on the exposed staples. The ones tucked under the shingles seem fine. But I live in a dry grassland area where the rain comes all at once and then weeks without. If I lived somewhere more corrosive like along the coast, I would use a better fastener like an actual coated roofing nail.

[tulekah]

aluminum roofing nails. i suppose you could make your own custom nails by glueing a bunch of nails to a board and spikeing a sand bed. then pour the aluminum and when it cools you would have a fakir's door mat...untill you cut it up into square headed nails. cast with the topds and bottoms of the cans.

[67spyder]

I hate to be a "negative nelly" but you said 900 cans to cover 100 square feet (10X10), Where I live (maybe not where you live) beer and pop cans have a 5cent deposit which means that 900 cans will give you $45 which will easily buy 3 bundles of shingles which will coincidentally cover 100 square feet with much less work.  Otherwise a great idea

[wrenawild]

Anyone can get plenty of free, empty cans. You wouldn't have to spend a dime. If you can't figure out how to collect some for free, you probably shouldn't be building a roof.

[DIY-Guy]

Hmm, my neighbors would object to me "making money" off the deposit refund, but would be proud to contribute to a dog house or a shed that "beer built!" Some states have draconian tax and identification requirements which deny some people the right of refund. Maybe the beer-u-crats on the state payroll think the homeless are getting rich from cleaning up trash? That was the idea after all, was it not? Reduce the litter by making it valuable?

One or two layers of non-degrading aluminum will withstand the UV for decade after decade. My asphalt and mineral surface shingles always need replacing before their projected lifespan is up. Metal is more permanent.

Besides, this is all about re-purposing and DIY.  :) 
Good method, good results, good for RobbToberfest!

[67spyder]

Don't get me wrong this is a fantastic idea.  Also I have been thinking a lot about the refund issue.  Although it motivates the uninitiated to be environmental it does discourage re-use which is better than recycling.  In a state where there is no deposit there are usually easier facilities for recycling the aluminum based on weight which you can still do after you cut the top and bottom off (the heaviest parts) once you cut up a can it is no longer eligible for the refund.  Mabe the bounty should be placed on the can top?? (RobbToberfest, Sorry about hijacking your excellent instructable with a political discussion)

[robbtoberfest]

 I'm lovin the discussion.

[robbtoberfest]

 I would definitely go your route; but in Kansas here we're like a decade or two behind in recycling and incentive things like that.

[ward1969]

This is brilliant and it is a great discussion. I don't think total costs are reflected in the use of first run shingles versus reusing aluminum cans. There's also something really cool about sticking it to the system. Nice job.

[Karroo Oakey]

Most well done! As an Al scrounger it is brilliant that you are able to make a use for the sides and the top and bottom for your forge. I have found the sides to be a waste of time for the forge and have wondered if there isn't something better to do with them.

[simony]

 I'm definitely going to do this!

except I'm going to have the graphics on the outside

[rojotwo]

You should've seen the refugy areas around Saigon during the war. Thousands of homes(shacks) roofed and sided with beer and sody cans. They just made a flat shingles and banged them on with the pretty side out. Quite a refreshing way to get 'r done.

[akyramoto]

looks like it was for a chicken coop maybe!! NICE, great idea. I would def like to give this a try. I think the result is great looking!!

[Pkranger88]

Great job... 1 thing though. Aluminum cans are usually near pure aluminum rather than an alloy, meaning they will oxidize in the elements rather quickly. A quick shot of paint should help that, but other than that, the patience you have to do that is awesome. Keep it up.

[kscience]

the cans are treated to endure the liquid contents, and not yield a drink any more toxic than the alcohol within. They are not anodized, but are very similar to the extremely more expensive rolls of flashing you can buy. Plus, they shield the henhouse from RF fields, an unintended benefit. Cool idea. I bet it outlives the chickens.

[adamvan2000]

No more glow-in-the-dark pre-cooked chickens? ~adamvan2000

[Pkranger88]

You're probably right, but at the same time, my concern would be that the coating isn't designed to withstand UV, bird poop, the dirt and dust blowing as an abrasive across the surface, etc. Even if the coating is designed to withstand the acidic levels of Coca-Cola, I guarantee the manufacturers of the cans don't use a coating with this in mind. Still, very clever. I wouldn't do it though.

[DIY-Guy]

Not trying to put down your opinion here, but the oxide coating does prevent further degredation of the aluminum surface....

Aluminum oxide in daily experience is almost clear, close to a molecule or a few thick, and provides exceptional weather resistance. Ask an experienced electroplater and they'll say the proceedure for aluminum is "clean, and treat- immediately" before the pesky, permanent, aluminum oxide forms again. Also, the guys who make hydrogen from aluminum cans in lye are often frustrated by the aluminum oxide coating which prevents the lye from reacting easily with the surface. (Search instructables.com for "hydrogen fuel from soda cans")

[kscience]

 Aluminum oxide is incredibly tough.  It is used in abrasives for gosh sakes.  I still say this is an awesome use for aluminum cans.

[sugarego]

aluminum does oxidize, however, aluminum oxide is a really strong material (stronger than original aluminum, i believe)! they add it to floor polyurethane to make the finish more durable. also, when it oxidizes, it doesn't do like iron, becoming all brittle and full of holes and discolored. the surface will be coated with a powdery oxidized aluminum that won't be highly visible, except that the finish will be a bit more dull (which ought to tame its sun reflectiveness). what will happen over a great length of time, i can't say, because i don't know that much about metal. but it seems that the oxidized surface will add further protection to the roof. anyone else know a lot about metal who can confirm this?

[kscience]

No expert, but I did aluminum finishing years ago. Yes, Aluminum Oxide is far sturdier than the metal it grows from; You can buy sandpaper whose grit is aluminum oxide! I just want to say to robbtoberfest, let others scoff. The truth will not only set you free, but it will also protect your chickens for generations to come. You hit it on the head, and the larger fasteners [maybe even some contact adhesive beneath] will hold up against all but tornadoes. You rock, man. Great instructable. Toolmakers are a dying breed, sadly.

[Kactapuss]

have you ever come across an ancient beer can in the woods? they tend to hold up pretty well over the years, and i think that they would do much much better if they were not lying on the ground. I would estimate this would last years.

[robbtoberfest]

I think the can lining to protect flavor acts like a paint.

[RFilyaw]

Agreed.

[awkrin]

don't u think u took diy a to an extreme? well it's nice to make a roof almost for free, since no one(except diy-ers) use used aluminum cans for things like this

[klh812]

What's wrong? Can't you make anything with your hands?

[Scififemale]

This is great, teenages are using a den in some fields near here and there is a big pile of cans. But is there anything that can be done with squashed cans?

[robbtoberfest]

too funny! I take that "extreme diy-er" as a great compliment. These have other uses I've found out; I plan on using them as part of a solar water heater. The water will trickle down from a manifold over these (which will be painted black) and collect into an insulated tank for water heating and home heating. They should make a great heat exchanger.

[neblotti]

What a good article. I am always trying to find out how to recycle things. Thank You. My chicken coop needs a new roof. Can not wait to try this.

[TheDeviant13]

haha I saw a pun no-one else did {Can} not wait to try this. get it because the shingles are made from CANS

[robbtoberfest]

Thanks, post some pics if it works for ya.

[evolvingmonkeys]

This is going on my recycled greenhouse porch roof! Nice work.

[hailtothkngbby]

Outstanding!

[illdoyourdrugs]

DUDE absolutly awesome ible. All those beer cans finally put to use. I was also looking for cheap alternatives on parts for a shed. BINGO!

[Kooldude777]

great instructable. i wanna try this but i just have one question: what do you do with the ends of the cans that aren't used?

[robbtoberfest]

I recently started aluminum casting in my backyard, so they are either melted down into fun stuff or taken to the recycle center. Someone could probably press them into mini hubcaps for toy cars.

[mao-diy]

hey! this is a great idea (and a great tune too ... Tool rules!! =D .....)

[orisj]

GREAT instructable! GREAT idea! I want to try this on my garden shed! 5/5 from me.

[thickneckarts]

I want to build a medium sized shed for storing garden tools, etc. Think these shingles would hold out rain pretty well?

[ashleyinasheville]

I use this method of recycling beer cans for making roofs for birdhouses that I make...great instructable! Easy to cut into detail and easily bendable.

[robbtoberfest]

I think so. So far, my shingles have held up very well for this first year; no leaks at all. For extra security on your roof project, maybe a layer of felt paper would help, but then you might have to use longer staples.

[CrazyHowiesBikes]

Talk about REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!!! I love it, and I am going to give it a try! Thanks for a great idea and a well-written instructable!

[robbtoberfest]

Thanks, wait until you see my next aluminum can project. I hope it works. I'm just getting started for entry into the laser cutter contest.

[Fixerdad]

You might want to use monel staples, monel being a nickel alloy, absurdly tough and basically immune to corrosion. Much faster/easier than aluminum nails, though a bit more $ compared to regular, but worth it in the long run. Also, waiting till the shingles weather in and then coating them would prolong the roof, but I'm guessing someone already pointed this out. Great die by the way, thanks.

[robbtoberfest]

Thanks for the tip on the staples; I think I'll do that.

[kelociraptor]

A can opener also works wonders for getting the tops & bottoms off of any alum. can... then you only have to cut the length of the can with the snips rather than maneuver the snips around the ends.

[robbtoberfest]

My issue with that idea was the rim at the top makes the shingle hard to crimp with this wood press. Also I don't see how a can opener will work on the bottom.

[kelociraptor]

I suppose you're right... when I tried this, we used the can opener to first cut off the top, then snipped down the can and snipped off the bottom... at the time I was in school, so we got smart and made a template to cut the cans with a saw in my school's fabrication shop. You could replicate our process by hand with a hacksaw, I suppose. Here are photos from how we (there were 6 of us) mass-produced them:
http://flickr.com/photos/rosedarling/sets/72157604648128130/

So, if you could rig up a PVC enclosure similar to the one we made (see IMG_1218 & IMG_1220), you could hacksaw off both ends with ease and then snip down the length.

[robbtoberfest]

Awesome!!!! The pvc to hold the cans is a good idea. After making some kind of cutting machine, I was also thinking of modifying a paper shredder to do the actual shingle forming.

[Coati]

One of the best instructables I have seen.Your die is pure genius.

[Solderguy]

This is an awesome instructable!

[jeffconnelly]

This is amazing! I have to try this!

[jeffconnelly]

+

[jeffconnelly]

+

[jeffconnelly]

+

[jeffconnelly]

10/5

[thermoelectric]

Wow! This is so cool 5/5 rating

[Plasmana]

Wow! This is a great instructable!

[starr_692]

Great idea for making corrugations! You could also use old aluminum press plates from your local newspaper. They're about 2'x3' rectangles, matte w/ burned text/images on one side, shiny on the other. You can get unused misprints, or clean ink off of used ones. Most papers will sell them for under 50 cents. Same idea, but no cutting cans required...and the text could look pretty cool. Maybe I'll make a related instructable if I ever move somewhere where I can roof something...

[bigunit]

That is a GREAT IDEA!!!! I used to be a print broker and saw them toss those HUGE plates all the time! Man! You could cover a garden shed in NO TIME! AWESOME!!!

[imshanedulong]

Thanks! This just inspired me to give our crappy tree house a "Green Makeover"!

[boognishmofo]

Awesome!!! Thank you so much. Ive been thinking of some uses for cans. Dont think I will use em for this but gives me ideas for other stuff. I wanted to make a windmill and turbine out of cans. Also was gonna make a perpetual marble track out of recycled cans. Love what you used to press em. Thanks again.

[dr_venture]

Very cool - my wife and I were looking into doing this, but with those 1 gal. restaurant-sized steel cans. There are houses in Bodie (a ghost town in eastern CA) with roofs covered in tin can shingles that have got to be at least 80 or 90 years old (the shingles, that is). One note: I know there can be problems with mixing metal sheeting with nails of a different alloy... i.e, aluminum roofing with galvanized steel nails. The upshot is that the metal sheeting reats to teh nails/screws and oxidises/fatigues much quicker than it would otherwise. I'm unclear as to whether the the fact that the nails are steel or galvanised is the culprit. So this is something that *might* be an issue when using steel staples and aluminum cans.

[sircosmic]

if you want metal cans try talking to whatever railway is nearby....they have cans of railway spikes and some MOW (Maintenance Of Way) crews have a bad habit of leaving these cans littered along the tracks.Happy Hunting!!

[kscience]

Galvanic action caqn be a drag, in Salt Water. However, even acid rain cannot eat through aluminum oxide loike satwater does; I bet the degrading action of galvanic response is an afterthought here. Good point though; but ask the fisherman where galvanic action is a bummer; its in the ocean.

[dahut]

Great idea to reuse a common material.

[theburn7]

Wow, Good idea, 5 stars!

[finnindian]

you might try to order aluminum nails. I had some years ago they only work in soft wood, not plywood or hardwood.

[DavidRad]

What's the wheel thing (3rd frame)? Is it cutting the can?

[robbtoberfest]

Not yet, I'm just experimenting and trying to make a can cutter.

[whiteyone]

Hi, did you have any luck with the can cutter you were trying to make? I desperately need something like that myself.

[robbtoberfest]

Hey, not done a thing in 7 weeks. I started working full time for the summer and got busy. I'm still debating myself over cutting design, spinning cutting wheels or spin the cans on a light pressure cutting blade.

[Gjdj3]

That's really cool! Why didn't you enter it in the Go Green Contest?

[robbtoberfest]

I posted it one week before the contest started; that negated me.

[robbtoberfest]

I got the first real damage this week with golf ball sized hail and very high winds. She took it like a champ though; no punctures and lost just two ridge cap pieces. The only adjustment I'd make is on the ridge cap, instead of 1/4" staples use 3/8."

[robbtoberfest]

Correction: Use 1/2" staples not 3/8"

[Dragon Rider Eragon]

This is such a classy idea! Especially since the cost of building materials. And lets face it, Its practically free!!

[Cleansheet!]

Hey this is a great idea!!! Will keep this in mind for any projects that require roofing in the future!! Thanks so much;)

[robbtoberfest]

At two months so far, it has held up well to spring rains and even a pea-sized hail storm. No damage, I think it's because the shingles have some flex when you push down on them.

[NachoMahma]

. Great idea and a fantastic Instructable! I give it a + and wish I could give it two.

[SewingDiva]

Brilliant! I also like the rustic walls with the silver roof. Would love to see a phot of the whole coop.

[robbtoberfest]

Beer can roof coop

[SewingDiva]

Man, that is one fabulous coop. Outstandng!

[robbtoberfest]

Thanks! I'll be posting the whole coop within the next two weeks; I'll add a link then.

[kadris3]

25 or maybe 30 years ago in the "Mother Earth News" there was an article on using aluminum lineotype printing plates fr shingles in a somewhat similar manner. they were much larger and u didn't have to work so hard. the problem now is every paper is probably digital. even if it weren't they would probably recycle the plates rather than just using them once and throwing them out. if anyone can think of a free or very inexpensive source of aluminum please let the world know. thanks.

[Charlie1138]

I don't know if that video is working for anyone else but it doesn't work for me.. here is a direct link to it..

video

[robbtoberfest]

Looks cool! I'd like to automate this whole process into a machine that spits out the shingles or other pressed parts from old cans, but I'm lacking in skills for that.

[Charlie1138]

That would be cool. :D It would be cool to stamp out somekind of little 3D shapes too.. like hubcaps with somekind of 3D impressions in them.. sheet metal is so cool for some reason.. The problem with my little rig though is that it would work best for one type of can. But you would need a different setup for a different type of can.. but if you can find one beer or soda with the right can type that works then it's OK. haha What a great excuse to buy more beer. hahaha

[Atomic Shrimp]

Very impressive idea. I'd be a little bit concerned about all the sharp edges, but crimping them over would be a big pain, wouldn't it? - and might also stop the corrugation thing working so well. I suppose it's only really the trailing lower edge that's exposed, on most of the shingles.

[Charlie1138]

This idea has so many possibilities. The only question is the cost effectiveness.. I wonder which is cheaper here in California.. buying sheet metal or doing this?

If you have the right kind of can(without an indentation around the rim) you could use one of those can openers shown above to cut the top off.. then for the bottom you could make a pipe that has one opening sharpened around the edge and use that to cut the bottom out.. just hit it with a hammer. That would really speed the process up, and make cleaner cuts, too

I made a little video with sketchup. I don't know how well this idea will work.. but seems like it would be a lot easier.. I made this video as a training project to learn sketchup too, so, hopefully it makes sense..

[junisponds]

okay, i have to include this on www.toologics.com.

[Rishnai]

Hey, brilliant idea! I wish I had thought of this before I turned in three 50 gallon bags of cans to recycling. A decade's worth of Pepsi products, and I could out a new roof on pretty much anything.

[xiangdo]

Here in Maine we pay $0.05 deposit on each can, so failing to redeem them means this won't save any money over asphalt shingles and won't save them from discard (as they're already recycled after being turned in). In most other states it's a sweet idea, though.

[static]

A nickle "deposit"? I guess that's really the only way to really insure the aluminium cans do get recycled.

[HandyMan1959]

In Michigan its $0.10 deposit on every carbonated drink, has been since the late 70's

[xiangdo]

Not just cans - plastic and glass beer and soda containers too. Besides the recycling benefit, it really helps keep the roadsides a lot neater, too. Not too many folks like to toss nickels out out the car window, and there are always those who are glad to pick up the ones that are discarded. Also makes "bottle drives" a viable fund raiser for the scout troops and church groups, so it's a win-win, in my view.

[mrxavia]

Not sure if even $0.10 would actually motivate anyone to recycle in England, you would end up spending more on the petrol to take them to get your rebate..

[xiangdo]

This actually created a whole new business opportunity, and redemption centers sprung up to meet the need - occupying all sorts of empty storefronts and commercial properties, not to mention many small operations out of the family garage. If a redemption center isn't on your normal route, you just save the bottles and cans and make a small detour.

[mrxavia]

I guess its a different culture, your petrol is cheap, your living costs are generally lower. It would take a lot of cans at $0.10 each to make a detour profitable. I already put my cans/bottles in a recycling bin a couple of miles from me (large unmanned bins that are collected every 2-4 weeks). I guess I go through maybe 1000 cans a year, thats only $100 rebate at $0.10 each, but it means I have to save up the cans until I have enough to be worth while.... Maybe if my local pub collected bottles it would be worth it, but they stopped doing that years ago...

[xiangdo]

When I speak of a detour, I'm talking about a driving perhaps a mile or two out of my normal way, there are plenty of redemption centers, as well as many supermarkets that also redeem containers, so it isn't hard to find a place nearby. I usually save up cans and bottles until it equals $3 to $5 worth at $0.05 per, just to make it worth the time. I'm currently paying $3.299 a gallon for fuel and getting 25 MPG, so it isn't an undue expense or difficulty and feels much better that just trashing the containers, which is what used to happen. When I was a kid, all beverage containers were glass and were turned in for the deposit because they were sterilized and reused, not just recycled - a good bit more labor-intensive, I think.

[static]

Yes in the old days it was the container that was recycled not the material the the container was made out of, what is being recycled today. There are argument co & pro for returning to reusable containers. In the event it can be done without increasing energy consumption, I could handle it. But times have changed most get the beverage to go from a self serve soda fountain these days.

[mrxavia]

I do recycle all my cans/bottles, since that is only a mile from my house, but I don't even know of one place that pays to refund cans/bottles. I wish petrol was that cheap for me, I pay about £1.10($2.18) a liter/£4.16($8.27) a US Gallon! I cannot imagine paying only £1.66 a US Gallon, you are so lucky when it comes to fuel prices... I agree about glass bottles being sterilized, I spend allot of time in China, most of the local beer is in recycled bottles, you can tell as the bottles have the name of a different beer to the label :-) and they come to your door and collect all recyclables and pay you for it!

[harwood909]

I would suggest using the type of can opener you place on top and then using the snips to split it down the middle. It would leave a more efficient cut, less waste, and a faster method.

[robbtoberfest]

It can be done large scale, check out this house
beer can house

[0.775volts]

Goregeous, simply goregous. Keep up the good work.

[jojoB]

smart idea, only wich type of staples do you use steel? greetings Rob

[robbtoberfest]

I thought they were all steel.? I guess that's what I used.

[buchd]

This is a great idea! I remember having an idea similar to this when I was in first grade designing my recycled-stuff treehouse. Good to see it's actually been done, and successfully. Thanks!

[gchagaman]

Man as much as I drink I'll be able to do the whole house in no time. You've got an awesome idea.

[johnnyshaman]

Damn cool - I'd go with label side out to make it a little more interesting. Do you think adding a few much smaller ridges along the flat area would make them a bit more rigid? Like 1/8" high "V" shape?

[TheRevJester]

I love it!

[static]

As some would say that' thinking outside the box. For myself this method would be one of a last resort, somewhere after making my own wood shingles or shakes. Too many sharp edges for my liking. Another concern would be a Kansas Wind lifting the off and giving them to a Corn Husker or an Okie and hail stones perforating the metal. King a die long enough so it could form two sheets at once would speed up the process slightly.

[robbtoberfest]

They've held up to high winds (~30mph) better than I expected, we'll see what happens when the spring hail storms hit.

[craftthefuture]

Well done! How long did the whole project take you?

[robbtoberfest]

It took about 3-4 hours because it was the first time, might be more efficient the next time.

[SteveGerber]

Nice! Maybe we need a aluminum can reuse group... :) Check out my simpler but also useful How to make durable plant markers

[lbrewer42]

Great idea - especially crimping them. Not sure of the cost - but if a roll of aluminum flashing was inexpensive enough, I wonder if it would work as well with a lot less cutting? Of course free is definitely a better price.

[computerwiz_222]

This is GREAT! I love the ingenuity of the idea!

[CapnChkn]

Well that's just "slicker than snot!" I wouldn't worry about hot days, Aluminum doesn't absorb and hold heat, and reflects 96% of all the light radiation, including infrared, or heat. As for using as a cover for houses, in the old days some of those old Western towns were shingled in flattened tin cans. Sometimes the walls. This makes good sense in a dry sunny climate with no rain, Steel reflects somewhere around 87 - 89% of light radiation The only problem I see is getting back up there to do any roof work. I want to turn your design around 90 degrees, so I can get my foot in between the ridges. You've got me thinking, I want to shingle a second roof now!

[animal0307]

good ieda too bad i dont have a house to redo. but does it really take that many cans??

[robbtoberfest]

Use the tall-boy cans for bigger shingles. I don't know if I'd trust this on a house yet; that's why they're only on a coop right now.

[animal0307]

oh gosh no... when i said house i ment a house like structure (i.e shed, chicken coop, dog house, and so on) besides that would loud and VERY non energy efficent

but yea good point bigger cans = bigger shingles

[Ezara]

The roof is super impressive!

[Labot2001]

Great repurpose idea! +1 I'd actually thought about making your chicken coop - I've been wanting some chickens for awhile. But alas, the home owner's association forbids ownership of said poultry. ;[

[Ezara]

You might be able to get away with a couple of bantams. They are smaller and sometimes quieter. Some breeds don't even look like chickens, yet they still lay good eggs.

[DainiusGB]

just do it! I live in a tight neighborhood and it is against the law to have chickens in that sort of environment but my neighbours dont say anything and no cops have said anything about it!

[bowakowa]

Owner's associations are stupid...so stupid.

[servant74]

Yea, but that is why the rules are available BEFORE you buy in an area with neighborhood gestapo. We lived in one, and it was nice that no one did 'dumb' things that drove down MY property value. But when I put a vent on the top of my garage, they nailed me for it because they could see the peak of it from the street. (We took it down, told them we did. Painted it to match the roof, rather than leave it aluminum, and put it back up a month later. ... no more letters from 'em after that.) ... Oh yea, we sold and moved a way but not due to that.

[bowakowa]

Of course you have to know what you're getting into up front. I simply would never make that choice because of a natural inclination to freedom. Not that there's anything wrong with those that do, the economics make sense, when seen only from dollars and cents.

[denass]

Great idea!!!! Will see how it works on my shed in montana!!!! Hope to see you on the front again!!

[robbtoberfest]

Send me a picture when it's done or post it here. That would be cool to see!

[Ben.land101]

nice idea

[triumphman]

A few years back a lovely lady who had a gardening column in the New Jerk Times told folks to use one Gallon Milk Jugs to do a similar shingle thingy. Well, since I have been recycling things for years, I had to let her and unsuspecting readers that- the plastic is very unstable and turned very brittle. Usually lasting only one season, due to extreames of sun and cold temps. She circular-filed my advice, and never printed a word. So much for her column, she was canned anyway. She never researched her ideas more than it took to write them. WARNING, WILL ROBINSON!!! DANGER AHEAD!!! Don't use plastic milk jugs. Great idea dude! Recycling is the way to go!!!

[survivor569]

great idea, fast and simple!

[Mr. Rig It]

Oh also 1. If this is not a featured Instructable, it should be. 2. It is this kind of ingenuity that keeps me coming back to Instructables. Really great job and inspiring as well.

[Mr. Rig It]

Nice! you get a plus!

[benatkin815]

just a thought, wouldn't the reflective can surface also keep what ever building your covering nice and cool too?

[benatkin815]

It would make a nice sound in the rain too...

[incorrigible packrat]

First, I must begin, as is often requisite, with a quote from Homer... "Mountain Dew or crab juice?" "Ewwwwwww, I'll have the crab juice!". With that out of the way, I have to say, "Swell job there". I like the crimping die idea. The ribs should make the shingles strong enough to resist flapping in the wind. A similar set-up could be used to make solar collectors, by crimping the cans onto copper pipe. Once again, kudos for not just putting crappy asphalt shingles on yer coop (and for drinking Mountain Dew).

[omnibot]

Oooohhhh! This is just the idea I needed! Amazing! Thanx.

[lazlow69]

Brilliant dude! I'm going to play with this since a ton of solid bigger cans are around and I'm sure this can get scaled up to some larger scenarios. Badass little video, thanks for putting the time in.

[killerjackalope]

Ohh this did give me an excellent Idea and yes i realize i already commented but i'll post this one soon, it's definitely a good one...

[carpespasm]

Very very nice. I like the idea, the simplicity of it, the ease of materials to do it with, and the use of "Wings for mary".

[Ian.G]

how redneck of you.

[Scammah]

I think it would be kinda cool to use them on the opposite side with the print on top. But then again it might look kinda trashy.

[Doctor What]

Friggin sweet. It's recycling! It's amazing!!! (+) (favorited)

[ve2vfd]

Thats a cool idea! I wonder if you can just cut the cans in half and use them like terracota half-tubes?

[boxa888]

wow great job, its really clean job too, looks like the real thing

[LinuxH4x0r]

Awesome!

[Gunk on Floor]

Very nicely done! +1 ad fav'd!

[rimar2000]

GENIAL, congratulations.

[GorillazMiko]

Wow, nice job! Done very neatly, looks great! +1 rating.

[iPodGuy]

Nice! +1 and favorited

[watermelon]

Way awesome! Was looking for concrete shingle mold designs but really wanted to use aluminum. There was a house featured at the end of some news broadcast where a man covered his whole house with aluminum cans but his cans did not include ridges although he used the same shake shingle method of stapling each one to the house. It took him about 8 years as I recall so this could be used to do a roof on a house but it would take a long, long time which means that if you are going to do a roof you should probably go ahead and commit to either a lot thicker aluminum sheet or quadruple up on the number of cans. Good one.

[cheezstake]

Excellent idea for reusing cans! I would guess that with the shiny side out, the coop stays cooler in the summer months due to the percentage of the sun's rays being reflected back. +1000000!

[magiclarry]

I used this about 3 years ago to redo the shingles on my dogs house. They are still holding on. I didn't go to the extream of making dies to put creases in the shingles (nice touch). I just layed them flat and over lapped them alot.

[crankyjew]

heh, thats acually really cool.

[!Andrew_Modder!]

wow. haha thats very nice! ..never would have guessed to do this

[Rob K]

Do them label side out could be a neat effect.

[!Andrew_Modder!]

they'd get sun faded, and the ink would dull and go away =\ (and probably look horrible after a season).

[killerjackalope]

This is a sweet idea, I just had a great thought, involving me drinking alot of guinness and doing some carefull aranging of the cans, they're mostly black aswell which lends to the traditional roof look. +1

[Sgt.Waffles]

HAHA! Awesome! +