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How do I Build a LEGO Terracotta Roof?

Terracotta roofing tiles have been used on buildings in Greece since the eighth century B.C. These tiles can also be found on buildings in Italy, China and modern-day Latin America. The term terracotta can apply to a color (orange-red), and it can also apply to a material (literally, "baked earth"). Because modern terracotta roofing tiles tend to have a half-cylinder curve to them, Lego building blocks have no realistic equivalent to this traditional shape. When building your Lego roof to resemble a terracotta roof, select Lego roof tiles (bricks that slant downward on one side) that are orange-red and brown. For an antique look, select shingle bricks in multiple shades of orange, red and brown to represent the discoloration caused by weatherization

Things You'll Need

Orange-red, corner Lego roofing tiles
Orange-red, rectangular Lego roofing tiles
Rectangular Lego building blocks (any color)
Base tile

Instructions

- 1
  
  Lego building blocks come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
  
  Build the base of the structure on a thin, green base tile for stability. Alternate long, eight-pronged building blocks in a brick pattern so that the center point of each brick rests where two bricks meet above and below. At corners, flip the brick perpendicular. Leave space for windows if you wish, or simply build the structure up as high and as wide as you like.
- 2
  Place a long, rectangular roof tile in the center of one wall so the slope faces toward the outside of the wall. Continue placing roofing tile bricks on the center points of each wall. Continuing around the structure, add one brick to each wall until only the corner points are left open, with four prongs visible at each corner. You might have to play around with different widths or roofing tile to get the appropriate shape.
- 3
  Place corner roofing tile pieces in the four corners of the structure. Corner roofing tiles slop downward on two lateral or adjoining sides with a line down the middle similar to a triangle-visor or the corner of a cardboard box.
- 4
  Shingle the roof upward, alternating the roof tiles so that the center point of the roof tile falls where the two roofing tiles above and below it meet as you did with the bricks. Secure the roofing tile to the one below it by pressing the outside part of the block (near where the slope ends) to the ridge of the roofing tile. This way, the roof will continue to slope upward to a pitch in the middle with a center ridge line. Corner shingles should not alternate but should also follow the same sloping guidelines as the other tiles.

Construction Toys