No idea

[bish]

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been asked many times before. Briefly I am finally making the move out of my flat into a house with a garden. I've only just started looking so as you know it may be quite a while before I actually move in but wanted to get some ideas.

I've got the green light to build an observatory when we move. The most DIY I have ever done is putting up shelves. I am tempted to just save for one of those roll off roof obs that cost about £1200 or so. The other option is to buy a normal shed and try to put the roof on runners myself. We intend to have a large garden but want to keep the obs just big enough for a scope and couple of shelves. If I used a pier it would mean I don't need such a big shed as a tripod but they seem to cost about £500. Otherwise it means having a bigger obs and using the tripod still.

Anybody else been in similar position? I just wonder whether paying the extra and avoiding messing around making mistakes might be the way to go. Any useful tips or advice would be welcome. Thanks.

[adamsp123]

A roll off shed obsy, ie a small shed (6x4ft) on wheels, add a slot in the floor and wheels on the bottom and roll the whole thing off. Easy to do - really.

Some pics here http://stargazerslounge.com/diy-observatories/106187-my-roll-off-obsy.html

[bish]

Very interesting - hadn't thought of that! Thanks Pete.

[noakesy]

hi bish

if you look at my obsy on here it cost £600 total and did all myself ,research first , but its not to bad. good luck bud if you need advice you only have to ask. if you are in wales ill give you a hand, yours noakesy

[adamsp123]

If you did go down the route of a "roll off shed" it is worth the extra to get a quality T&G one, the real cheapos I would expect to severly flex with the slot in the floor. The builders of mine added some extra bracing on the bottom and I added 4 RA brackets to the inside (wall to floor) to reduce the flexture.

[bish]

Thanks for your help. If I lived in Wales I would probably have taken you up on your kind offer noaksey.

[Bizibilder]

Have a look at the "blog in my signature" (you will have to go back a few pages!!) to find my own build. Shed 6'x6' plus all the bits was around £600 BUT that includes a professional base and all fittings etc are stainless steel.

The pier was under £75 all in from the local steel fabricators and is included in the above price

[Astrokev]

Have a look at the "blog in my signature" (you will have to go back a few pages!!) to find my own build. Shed 6'x6' plus all the bits was around £600 BUT that includes a professional base and all fittings etc are stainless steel.

The pier was under £75 all in from the local steel fabricators and is included in the above price

I like your blog Bizibilder - a good build and entertaining to boot! I wish I had your metal working equipment!