My mini roll off roof observatory

[StaceStar]

Just now, ST_Steve said:

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

Definitely, I remember my dad using this on our flat roof. He also used a silver paint at some point. Sadly he’s not around anymore for me to ask advice, but I’m giving it the best go I can 😁 and learning lots 

[Stuart1971]

21 minutes ago, ST_Steve said:

Be aware that some silicon sealants will dissolve the felt…

Really….never come across that in 15 years of property developing…

[CraigT82]

1 hour ago, StaceStar said:

Definitely, I remember my dad using this on our flat roof. He also used a silver paint at some point. Sadly he’s not around anymore for me to ask advice, but I’m giving it the best go I can 😁 and learning lots 

I used this stuff when I built our garden office…. Works great but you really don’t wanna get it on your hands or clothes cos it won’t come off! 
 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-roof-gutter-sealant-black-310ml/67521

[StaceStar]

Just now, CraigT82 said:

I used this stuff when I built our garden office…. Works great but you really don’t wanna get it on your hands or clothes cos it won’t come off! 
 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-roof-gutter-sealant-black-310ml/67521

I’ll get some of that if the flashband doesn’t do the job 😁

[CraigT82]

Just now, StaceStar said:

I’ll get some of that if the flashband doesn’t do the job 

 

 it never really sets - even when fully cured it’s flexible and quite tacky. So you’ll need to remember not to put anything on top of the roof that you don’t want to get stained! 

[Stuart1971]

1 hour ago, StaceStar said:

I’ll get some of that if the flashband doesn’t do the job 😁

You won’t need it, with the flashband fitted, it will be sound then…

Bet you can’t wait to get it done now, I know it was the single best thing I ever did, and made a world of difference to the enjoyment of the hobby…👍🏻

[StaceStar]

1 hour ago, Stuart1971 said:

You won’t need it, with the flashband fitted, it will be sound then…

Bet you can’t wait to get it done now, I know it was the single best thing I ever did, and made a world of difference to the enjoyment of the hobby…👍🏻

Honestly I can’t wait. It’s going to do me the world of good. I was on the verge of selling my kit because after a session carrying things about or being stuck in the mud with the tuff truck, my neck was just so painful 

 

Also just installed the flashband whilst it’s a bit warmer to help it stick down! 

[Stuart1971]

1 hour ago, StaceStar said:

Honestly I can’t wait. It’s going to do me the world of good. I was on the verge of selling my kit because after a session carrying things about or being stuck in the mud with the tuff truck, my neck was just so painful 

 

Also just installed the flashband whilst it’s a bit warmer to help it stick down! 

That will do the trick…👍🏻

[StaceStar]

A bit more progress by the end of play today, two walls done. One including an air vent for airflow. I’ve got another 2 vents to fit too! 

[Budgie1]

5 hours ago, StaceStar said:

One including an air vent for airflow. I’ve got another 2 vents to fit too!

It;s a good move. I've found that a good flow of air through the obsy keeps everything nice & dry, and dries off any dew by the next morning. So much so that I don't have any heating or humidity control in mine.  

[ST_Steve]

22 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

Really….never come across that in 15 years of property developing…

Don’t want to derail the thread but any silicone sealant that is not neutral cure will react with felt (or any bituminous material).

[Swoop1]

On 19/10/2024 at 10:44, ST_Steve said:

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

A blowtorch is your friend (or, if not careful- your worst enemy).

[Swoop1]

On 19/10/2024 at 14:38, StaceStar said:

Honestly I can’t wait. It’s going to do me the world of good. I was on the verge of selling my kit because after a session carrying things about or being stuck in the mud with the tuff truck, my neck was just so painful 

 

Also just installed the flashband whilst it’s a bit warmer to help it stick down! 

What was your significant others response to the rolling pin abuse?

I found an old wallpaper join roller was perfect for flash tape fixing.

[StaceStar]

On 20/10/2024 at 17:16, Swoop1 said:

What was your significant others response to the rolling pin abuse?

I found an old wallpaper join roller was perfect for flash tape fixing.

She didn’t mind 🤣 she did tell me an alternative tool I could have used and its exact location though 😅

[StaceStar]

Today’s progress on the LLO! 

Insulated the roof. Filled gaps with expandy foam. 
Damp proof membrane down
Flooring started 
Clad back and front 
Insulated one wall
Went crazy with a stapler
Did some wood filling because I’ve done all the cuts with a hand saw and I had a couple (maybe about 5-8 ) gaps

Now sat with a single malt feeling incredibly pleased with myself and quite clever 🤣😂🥃

[StaceStar]

Didn’t end up like this poor soul with the expandy foam, so im classing it as a win! 

Edited Tuesday at 16:45 by StaceStar

[Stuart1971]

Super job, well done indeed….👍🏻

Edited Tuesday at 17:24 by Stuart1971

[StaceStar]

3 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

Super job, well done indeed….👍🏻

Thank you Stuart  

[Budgie1]

I've used the same insulation on the roof of my obsy and it works really well to keep the heat down during the Summer. One thing I have noticed with it is; when the roof is open on a frosty night, the frost forms on the silver insulation. So, when you close the roof, the frost melts and drips over the scope & mount.

I'm going to put some 3mm plywood sheeting over it to stop this happening, but in the meantime I've got a towel I put over the scope when it's in the Park position.

You may be fine, but forewarned is forearmed.

[Stuart1971]

2 minutes ago, Budgie1 said:

I've used the same insulation on the roof of my obsy and it works really well to keep the heat down during the Summer. One thing I have noticed with it is; when the roof is open on a frosty night, the frost forms on the silver insulation. So, when you close the roof, the frost melts and drips over the scope & mount.

I'm going to put some 3mm plywood sheeting over it to stop this happening, but in the meantime I've got a towel I put over the scope when it's in the Park position.

You may be fine, but forewarned is forearmed.

Hmmm, interesting, how would frost settle / form on a surface that faces the floor..?

[Budgie1]

3 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

Hmmm, interesting, how would frost settle / form on a surface that faces the floor..?

No idea, could be high humidity (I do live in an area with Temperate Rain Forest), but I saw it a number of times last Winter with a nice layer of frost on the exposed surface of the insulation.

My ROR rolls over some decking at the front of the obsy, so it's not even that it's over grass.

[Budgie1]

47 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

Hmmm, interesting, how would frost settle / form on a surface that faces the floor..?

I've just had a look at the data from my Weather Station for the five nights I was imaging during January 2024 and here's the results for min temp, dew point & mean humidity for each day:

Date	Low Temp	Dew Point	Mean Humidity
7th Jan	-3.2°C	-1.7°C	97%
8th Jan	-4.1°C	-1.9°C	97%
9th Jan	-2.1°C	-2.0°C	90%
29th Jan	-1.0°C	0.5°C	88%
30th Jan	-3.9°	0.9°C	91%

I didn't record nor can I remember which nights I saw frost on the inside but it will be caused by some relationship between the air temp, high humidity & dew point.

Edited Tuesday at 22:47 by Budgie1

[Sunshine]

Nice work! It looks great, I would live in that. 

[900SL]

Nice looking framing there Stace. Well done. 

[TiffsAndAstro]

On 22/10/2024 at 17:42, StaceStar said:

Today’s progress on the LLO! 

Insulated the roof. Filled gaps with expandy foam. 
Damp proof membrane down
Flooring started 
Clad back and front 
Insulated one wall
Went crazy with a stapler
Did some wood filling because I’ve done all the cuts with a hand saw and I had a couple (maybe about 5-8 ) gaps

Now sat with a single malt feeling incredibly pleased with myself and quite clever 🤣😂🥃

Looks professional and solid AF.

I've lived in smaller flats