The Birch Tree Observatory - almost done!

[Chris Graham]

I have now started planning my observatory location and shall keep updating with new pics. (even has a name already !!!!)

Its gonna take me quite a while as i have still to save for the shed, but hey i gotta start somewhere.

So here are a few pics:

9", 6 foot tube for pier

The location of the 10 x 7 shed

I'm gonna have a nice path going down this area to the door of the obs.

Just testing the size out, its a 7x7 foot observatory section with a 3x7 warm room, yup small but that all i can do.

[Saso]

Not bad. Nice beginning. You are far ahead than me. Do you building simple roll off observatory or something else?

Saso

[Chris Graham]

Standard roll off roof, still need to design that part of the project.

[GordonCopestake]

Looks nice Chris, looking forward to reading about your progress!

[Saso]

Standard roll off roof, still need to design that part of the project.

This is my plan too. But I also consider to build observatory on my roof. I don't know yet it is possible or not. Will see.

Saso

[Chris Graham]

Hole dug

Gonna be a few months yet till i get my shed.

Need to make the hole a bit wider

Gonna get the 8 x 7 metal shed now

[barkis]

Just a couple of points Chris. Is that a plastic pipe, and if so do you intendfilling it with concrete? I don't know what time you took the first picture, but do I see the shadow of your house on the back fence? If so your back garden faces North. Am I correct. Just curiosity you know.

Ron.

[Chris Graham]

Yes it is plastic and i do intend to fill it with concrete.

The left side fence is to the North and the right to the east.

[Stardust]

Looking good.

I've started mine, today I've mixed the last of the concrete foundation pads and hope to make the 4x2 base this week. Going to build it from scratch with a roll of roof. 9x6 foot with a tiny 2'6" x 7 warm cupboard. It's gonna take a while.

Dave

[Jaffa007]

Chris,

It's looking good so far, keep us posted & with pics 8)

Dave,

Come on, let's have a look :shock: at your work.

[GordonCopestake]

Consider making your pier footings a little larger Chris, a little more work now will give you MUCH less stress later down the line. no such thing as over-engineering when building stable piers!

[Stardust]

OK James I take some pics tomorrow and start a thread of my own to plot progress.

Gordon, my pier base is 10" square and I was going to put 80cm of 16mm threaded studding into a 14" square hole about 90cm deep in heavy clay. Is that enough?

cheers

Dave

[michaelmorris]

my pier base is 10" square and I was going to put 80cm of 16mm threaded studding into a 14" square hole about 90cm deep in heavy clay. Is that enough?

I'd go for more like 20 inches square, 10 inches is too small. As long as it doesn't get too close to any structures supporting the floor of the observatory (piles, concrete pads, concreted in posts etc.), the bigger the better.

[GordonCopestake]

Yup, the cubic yard is considered the minimum, but bigger is better. Theres no such thing as being over mounted. Concrete is cheap but your frustration down the line isn't!

[Stardust]

OK more digging then it is, as I'm going to this much effort I might as well get it right,

Oh my poor back.

thanks

DAve

[Chris Graham]

Ok dug the hole a bit more. Widened it and now down 3 feet.

Placed the rebar inside just for a test and it seems quite good.

One question tho.......

Placeing concrete on clay is this ok? The clay is very hard to dig out.

[Stardust]

I've got the same ground, heavy compacted clay with loads of flint. I can't think of anything much better, really can't see it moving in that. I've gone 20" square and the lump of concrete will be 3 ft deep. Don't know if that's overkill for a 60mm tasco!

Keep going

DAve

[Chris Graham]

Well i'll be putting my 80ED on it so not much bigger

[Chris Graham]

bit more progress

1.5 x 1.5 feet wide and now 3 feet deep

[Kai]

Looks a lot deeper than 3 ft

[Jaffa007]

Chris,

I can see a drain? But what are those other bits cris-crossing the hole??

[GordonCopestake]

I would be VERY careful of that pipe... maybe even to the point of moving the hole a little... as much of a pain that is

[Chris Graham]

its only an old field drain

and the other stuff is rebar

[GordonCopestake]

As long as you know what it is and it wont cause any problems should it be damaged during the pour

[Jaffa007]

Could you place a 'shutter', [plank of wood], so when pouring the cement, it doesn't make contact with the pipe? Only an idea.