how do i build a swooping copper roof?

Answer 1

I am assuming "swooping" means it has a convex curvature. There are two methods, standing seam, or flat soldered.
For a standing seam you would have to make a template of the curvature, and bring it to your local sheet metal shop where they may either make the panels or buy them form another fabricator. This is the best option for a large roof.
For a smaller roof, you can solder flat sheets.
Either way, flashing, fastening clips, and trim are all best handled by a pro.
Wear white cotton gloves when handeling copper to avoid finger prints.

Answer 2

Very Carefully! If you are talking about those bay roofs you see on the larger homes that have been built in the last few years many of them are factory made by roll seaming machines and die forming. If you were to try to do this yourself you may end up with a mess. There are three options.
1 - Contact a company that builds these. They will send you a kit that will ask for the dimensions and other information so that you can install the roof they build. They are delivered whole and you just need to, well, nail it in place.
2 - Change to a flat seamed roof. I put one on the Bow window of my house and turned the seams by hand with a "anvil' (wooden block) and a leather mallet. You need a fair amount of mechanical skill and understanding of sheet metal and geometry to tackle this.
3 - If you have what it takes as in 2 then you need to purchase a sheet metal shrinker and stretcher to form the curved seams.

This project is not to be taken lightly because a sheet of roofing copper can run from around $250 for a 3'x10' sheet of 16 oz. to more than $500 for .062 which you would use if there were a risk of hail/nut/debris damage. That and along with a shrinker costing about $450 you are looking at around $750 on up depending on the size of the window and the size of the roof you are trying to build.

Good reference can be found at Copper.org and the English counterpart.

Answer 3

Build the underpart of it out of logs , concrete, wood, whatever. Then put the copper sheets over it. They are flexible and strong. Probably $4 per square foot though.

Answer 4

I don't know why but i don't find this story funny... as for ur question, i think it's possible to survive a fall in some cases but if it's a really tall building then the chances are really less.