the yesyes observatory - the build

[Clockwork_Orange]

Its all looking very good Chris. 

Regards

John

[Gina]

not sure why those image previews are now so much bigger than before...

I'm getting that too.

[Gina]

The last bits always seem to take forever   Getting there though

[tony]

not been in for a while, nearly there bud.

[yesyes]

I managed to get half the front cladded today...

[twintin]

coming along nicely Chris. Soon have it fired up in time for winter.

Typed on the laptop whilst sat in the Star Bar contemplating a warm room and realised i can get a wireless signal

[yesyes]

awful weather today but I managed to get the lock installed on the front door at least...

[yesyes]

Quick question...

How does one weatherproof the hinge side of the front door? On the other 3 sides I will just make the shiplap a bit longer so it overlaps but I can't do that on the hinge side.

Any suggestions, please?

[Gina]

Draught excluder?  That's what I use

[Bizibilder]

If you have a strip of roof rubber left you could attach it to the hinge side of the door and allow it to slightly overlap the door post - maybe by an inch or so - across the "gap" that needs weatherproofing.  The stiffness of the rubber should keep it flat against the surface.  When the door is opened there should be sufficient flexibility in the rubber to allow it to bend out of the way as the door opens.

(Now you know why almost all outside doors on houses open inwards!!  )

[yesyes]

Yes, I was thinking about that. I just have to try that and hope it doesn't get in the way.

(Now you know why almost all outside doors on houses open inwards!!  )

The idea was to have all doors open away from the scope room to avoid collisions between scope and door. Maybe it was not such a good idea... Time will tell...

[Bizibilder]

I should have said - in my own case I have built a porch around the door.  Even with last weeks storms and driving rain no water (as far as I can tell) actually reached the door itself.

[Gina]

Off-cuts of rubber from from the roof are useful for all sorts of things   Same applies to off-cuts of springy rubber floor tiles   I recycle whatever I can

[yesyes]

I did keep the off-cuts from the rubber sheet, so will try that. Thanks

[malc-c]

If you have an inner frame to form a door shut, and install small run off above the door, something like this

[yesyes]

The roll-off roof itself will take the function of that board above the door. My front door is on the scope room below the roll-off roof. (this will still be cladded)

I'm mostly worried about the vertical gap along the hinged side. There will be a small inner frame to air seal the door. But if water runs in there, it's already inside the obsy, which I would like to avoid.

Or did I misunderstand your post?

[Tinker1947]

You could fit a weather strip will need thin slot to knock in to but will stop any water passing......

http://www.mightonproducts.com/products/sash-window-hardware/weatherstripping-beads/flexible-weatherstripping

[twintin]

Looking good Chris. My door opens outwards for the Sam reason yours does. If you fit the door stops fairly snug up to the door most water will be stopped. You can then pin P seals to the sides of the door which will completely stop it. A weatherstrip across the bottom of the door will keep water away. I haven't got P strips on yet but my door stops are doing a fine job of keeping the rain out, although I will still fit them when I get the chance just to be sure.

[r3i]

I have a length of batten that runs along the side of the shed where the door is and it has the rubber from the roof wrapped over it, to act as a run-off (thanks to Gina for that tip during my build).  As for the door, well there's just a simple inner frame.  So far so good - we've had a fair bit of wind and rain since I finished the observatory in March and no signs of any water getting in.

Like everyone else the offcuts from the rubber roof have been carefully stored away just in case.

But I would be so disappointed if you didn't apply a modicum of over-engineering.

[yesyes]

You're right. I'm probably over-thinking this again.

But then, why should this be the only not over-engineered part of the build?

[yesyes]

I think I found a solution. The offcuts from the roof rubber seem to work well but on the inside. On the outside it would bulge too much and I would need to leave a bigger gap in the cladding between door and wall.

[yesyes]

Yesterday's progress...

I did clad most of the other half of the front and the front door

[yesyes]

And today I finished the wall and also cladded the roll off roof

[malc-c]

Wow what a transformation.... Love the black foot plate on the door

Loving this build

[yesyes]

Thanks Malcom. That means a lot to me. Yours is basically the reference build, at least for me.