You have a number of choices for material and construction when it comes to your dollhouse roof. Depending on the architectural style of your dollhouse, you may choose a wood, simulated slate, asphalt, adobe, tin, copper or thatch roof. The construction of your roof depends heavily on the material you choose. Adobe and tin are sold in panels, and asphalt and slate are generally available in precut shingle rows. Wooden shingles come either in row configurations or as individual shingles.

If you intend to stain or paint shingles, you should do so before applying them to the roof of your dollhouse. It can be very difficult to uniformly stain already applied shingles, especially without discoloring attached trim. Make sure you have attached all trim around the roof area before applying the shingles.

Whatever material you choose, proper alignment is essential to the construction of your dollhouse roof. You will apply the roofing from bottom to top. Using a straight edge, draw a line across the length of the roof where you will place the first row of shingles.  Allow for a very slight overhang. With a ruler, double check that the space between the roof edge and line is exactly the same at both ends. Hold the straight edge just a hair above the line you have drawn and quickly apply your craft or hot glue to the line. Apply the individual shingles or row to that line. Make sure the edges of the shingles or row meet the straight edge. After you are finished with the first row, use the straight edge and ruler again to draw another line. The line spacing should allow for a slight overlap in shingle rows. If you are working with individual shingles rather than rows, you should stagger the vertical edges of shingles.

Proceed in the same manner until you have reached the last row of shingles at the peak of the roof. You may have to trim the final row. A decorative roof cap along the top edge will give your roof a finished look.