My mini roll off roof observatory

[StaceStar]

Hello all

Not really the best time of year to do it, but i'm going to start building a mini roll off roof observatory. To be honest, if i don't build this observatory soon I won't be doing much astro over the winter season, and if i do build it then its going to be a huge help! You see i managed to herniate three neck discs in 2022, and recovery is still ongoing. 

Anyway you might have seen my DIY pier, which has been a lifesaver,  and so that bit of work is done! So i'm going to build a mini roll off roof  observatory around it!

Basically i'm going to be sort of following @Domain105 fab build....so yes watch this space!!

So far i've bought plenty of wood, fence posts, fence post anchors....no concrete yet, and heavy duty rollers   these ones (1500mm long) : https://amzn.eu/d/8jQ8Dwm and a few other bits and pieces. 

We'll see how it goes, at least is the ground is a bit softer for me to dig things in! (silver linings  )

I'm hoping if we get a run of a few nicer days then i can book a few days off work and get a good chunk of the frame done!🤞

[Budgie1]

It'll be a bit of work to get it done but once you've got a permanent setup, it's a game changer. 

It now takes me 10-15 minutes to be imaging with my Obsy and I'm not worried if I only get an hour or two before the clouds roll in. And don't try to get it perfect first time out, you'll see tweaks that can be made as you start to use it.

Good luck with the build and enjoy the results. 👍

[Stuart1971]

Agree, having an obsy will make so much difference, but not sure how you are going to be digging with herniated discs, ouch.. that may not be the best idea, can you get someone to do it for you…?

Good Luck

[Clarkey]

9 hours ago, Budgie1 said:

it's a game changer

Definitely. I set mine up a couple of years ago - no more cold nights outside or setting up 'just in case'.

[Jeff-Colorado]

Good luck and it looks like you have an eager four legged friend to keep you company in your observatory.

[StaceStar]

13 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

Agree, having an obsy will make so much difference, but not sure how you are going to be digging with herniated discs, ouch.. that may not be the best idea, can you get someone to do it for you…?

Good Luck

For sure ! The wife is on fully on board, and is going to help me get the heavy / digging bits done thankfully 

[maw lod qan]

It is so nice and convenient to just go out, then roll the roof back.

I look forward to seeing some photos of it!

Definitely be careful with your neck!

[StaceStar]

So work has begun, my better half helped me knock the posts in as the neck is giving me a bit of grief at the moment.

frame isn’t quite finished, things need straightening up a bit, and my drill started smoking. Plus rain 😅 so now it’s time for a glass of wine in front of the fire ! 

[StaceStar]

Today’s small update, I added a few brackets to reinforce cross bars and corners and got myself a new impact driver! I think my drill is going to thank me 🤣

[CraigT82]

Looking good and coming together nicely. I got one of those dewalt impact drivers recently too…. Bit of a beast but so noisy! 

Edited October 7 by CraigT82

[Stuart1971]

How did you manage to knock those 4 corner posts spikes in and keep them perfectly vertical, I have never had success with them as they always via off at odd angles in my experience. And I have used many for fences over the years.. well done if they are, and would love to know your secret…

‘Good job so far..👍🏻

[StaceStar]

58 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

How did you manage to knock those 4 corner posts spikes in and keep them perfectly vertical, I have never had success with them as they always via off at odd angles in my experience. And I have used many for fences over the years.. well done if they are, and would love to know your secret…

‘Good job so far..👍🏻

Well we used my late Dad's sledgehammer (he was a builder)...so maybe he gave us a hand  

In reality, we just let the hammer do the work, the ground was nice and soft after all that rain, and we didn't absolutely whack them in. Just more less powerful hits, until they were in exactly the position we wanted. 

[StaceStar]

A bit more progress today! Need a few more bricks to support the joists and I’m going to add a few cross beams, but next up is attempting to build the roof! 

[StaceStar]

And the roof shell is made, I just need to reinforce it and add a slope so that rain runs off  

also had an electrician pop around to talk about getting some mains power and an Ethernet connection to my observatory! 

 

 

[Stuart1971]

Looking good, have you got enough clearance there for when you scope and kit is fitted, to be able to shut the roof over the top..?

Or is it already fitted under the cover..?

Edited Tuesday at 20:31 by Stuart1971

[StaceStar]

1 hour ago, Stuart1971 said:

Looking good, have you got enough clearance there for when you scope and kit is fitted, to be able to shut the roof over the top..?

Or is it already fitted under the cover..?

Yep! Checked multiple times and enough clearance when the scope is parked horizontally 😃

[StaceStar]

I’ve booked a few days off work so I can hopefully get my obsy mostly done. 
 

today was spent building a pent roof, cutting and securing OSB board and then felting and tacking it down. 
I’ve started adding some of the roof framing too to tidy it up, but again another trip to wickes is in order! 
 

I also added some noggins and more brackets to help support the floor, when that goes in. 
also had all my cladding delivered 😃

[Stuart1971]

Still looking good, although a small point, you should have put the felt on running the other way starting at the lowest point and overlapping that with the next piece, up to the highest point, as water can get under it the way you have placed it…

[StaceStar]

2 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

Still looking good, although a small point, you should have put the felt on running the other way starting at the lowest point and overlapping that with the next piece, up to the highest point, as water can get under it the way you have placed it…

Ah I never knew that! Nevermind, I will remember that for when I inevitably end up refelting it 

[Stuart1971]

1 minute ago, StaceStar said:

Ah I never knew that! Nevermind, I will remember that for when I inevitably end up refelting it 

Well that is the proper way to do it, so that the water will run down the slope and over the joins without leaking in, if you have put some silicon sealant along under the overlaps, it would help…👍🏻

[StaceStar]

5 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

Well that is the proper way to do it, so that the water will run down the slope and over the joins without leaking in, if you have put some silicon sealant along under the overlaps, it would help…👍🏻

That’s exactly my next move now! I was also looking at flashband too. They’re quite significant overlaps, so I’m hoping the water wouldn’t actually reach the wood. But you can never be too careful. So I’ll remedy that when I can 

[Stuart1971]

23 minutes ago, StaceStar said:

That’s exactly my next move now! I was also looking at flashband too. They’re quite significant overlaps, so I’m hoping the water wouldn’t actually reach the wood. But you can never be too careful. So I’ll remedy that when I can 

Yea, you can get an adhesive type flashband for over the joints, but if you have a good overlap of several inches and it’s pinned down well, then should be ok..Just thought I would point it out for future reference…

Look forward to seeing the rest of the build…👍🏻

Edited Friday at 17:32 by Stuart1971

[ST_Steve]

16 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

Well that is the proper way to do it, so that the water will run down the slope and over the joins without leaking in, if you have put some silicon sealant along under the overlaps, it would help…👍🏻

Be aware that some silicon sealants will dissolve the felt…

[StaceStar]

8 minutes ago, ST_Steve said:

Be aware that some silicon sealants will dissolve the felt…

I’ve ordered some flashband, it’s arriving today . So even though my overlap is quite large , it should ensure I’m 1000% watertight 

[ST_Steve]

Bituminous felt adhesive is good (something like Black Jack) but is a nightmare to apply particularly when the weather is cold…