Observatory in progress

Dealy (Kev) · #1 19-09-2014, 08:24 AM

Well after much deliberation and negotiating with my lovely, beautiful, kind and cooperative wife

, I've decided to make a start and build a backyard observatory to view from.

The first decision was dome or roll-off. There are advantages doing it both ways, which basically cancelled each other out, so my decision was based more on practicality for the location. I was always going to build it myself with a mate so a dome was also going to be the more difficult way to go, so in the end I decided on a roll-off roof. I do miss out on the "cool factor" though.

My wife works from home and didn't want an "ugly box" in the backyard to scare off her clients, so a major consideration was how it would look.

Council requirements are no approval necessary if less than 20 sq metres in area and 3m in height.

So here are my google sketchup concept drawings.

It will be located next to the pool so I've attached a pool deck area to improve the look and gain brownie points

Kev

ZeroID (Brent) · #2 19-09-2014, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dealy

It will be located next to the pool so I've attached a pool deck area to improve the look and gain brownie points

Kev

Good ploy...

Keep us posted with progress and congrats on getting it underway, you won't regret it.

DJT (David) · #3 19-09-2014, 09:03 PM

Nice. Good luck with it. Building my own obsy has to standout as one of the most enjoyable and satisfying DIY experiences thus far. Enjoy.

Dealy (Kev) · #4 20-09-2014, 10:21 PM

Thanks Brent & David.

A few shots of the actual job in progress.

1. Footings all dug out. This is looking south.

2. Pier holes dug. They are deeper than how they appear in the photos. Note the tree roots I had to contend with - what a nightmare. I was only going to have one but a last minute suggestion by my builder mate and a change in size for my warm room meant I could fit the second pier in. It's not in the perfect location as I had already dug the first one out in a fairly central spot. It should work ok but. One for imaging and the other for visual at the same time.

3. Sub-floor for the pool deck going in. We are suspending the stirrups in the footing holes, which will be filled with concrete later.

Dealy (Kev) · #5 21-09-2014, 08:41 PM

Another couple of progress shots.

1. Subfloor & concreting complete. Flooring going down. Piers in place.

I was prepared for the worst when I asked for a quote from a local fabrication shop for the piers. I wanted 200mm dia heavy walled pipe and 16mm steel plates top and bottom. They had enough 200 for one only and had to use 150mm for the second pier . That's still more than adequate for a visual set-up so I asked them to go ahead.

The price ..... $100 each - an absolute bargain. The steel would probably cost that alone. They said they needed a job to keep the apprentice working and were happy to help out.

2. Flooring down. Wall frames going up. At this stage I had a realisation of how big it was going to be. I probably should have made it a bit smaller to help keep the costs under control, but too late now.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #6 22-09-2014, 12:01 AM

Looking great Kev and nah...an observatory can never be too big!

Looking forward to watching this develop

Mike

Dealy (Kev) · #7 04-10-2014, 09:05 PM

Thanks Mike. Yeah like most things with this hobby bigger is usually better.

Another update. I should give full credit to my good mate Jeff who has also put in many hours of his time and is the one with most of the construction know how. Thanks mate

1. Outside wall cladding. My wife wanted cedar boards, but at approx $4k just to clad the observatory I had to find a cheaper alternative that would still pass the wife test. After visiting timber sellers and scouring the net I found a liquidation place selling cypress floor boards for about 1/6 that of the cedar. It passed the test but unlike the cedar I had to sand and oil the boards prior to fitting. So after many hours, many sanding discs, much dust, and many days of smelling the oil through the house all the boards were ready. I needed 420 lineal meters in total.

2. Cladding boards going up.

3. View from inside. Internal lining boards are just the 4mm ply bracing builders use these days to keep everything square and plumb. Cheap but will look good with a coat of oil on it.

4. Timber deck under the roll off area almost complete with dog proofing going on the side.

Dealy (Kev) · #8 25-10-2014, 07:00 PM

Another update. Progress has been slow due to spending way to much time at work.

1. Insulation in - ready for cladding. As of today all the cladding is now complete except for the 4 corners. I have to make up cover strips to keep the weather out.

2. Internal lining sheets are up on 3 walls.

3. The warm room walls have been sheeted with ply. This will be stained a darker colour. There will be a bench fitted under the window for the computer etc to sit on.

4. I've started work on the roof. If you look at my original post you will see the shape of the roof. To make to curved rafters I have screwed blocks to the floor to make a 5m radius curve. The solid timber was cut into 15mm thick strips and glued back together in the curved jig.

5. A rafter after removal from the jig. I just have to sand it to make it look pretty. I've made 4 - only 5 to go.

6. Step and door jamb fitted. I will soon start work on the door.

7. Pool deck more or less complete - just need to oil the decking boards. You can just see in this photo the steel beams the roof will roll on, temporarily braced with 'G' clamps.

It's been a long process but I'm starting to get excited about getting the roof on and making it weatherproof.

rogerg (Roger) · #9 25-10-2014, 08:36 PM

Very nice building

I wouldn't have a hope of building something like that myself

Dealy (Kev) · #10 26-10-2014, 08:08 PM

Never be afraid to dive in and learn from your mistakes Roger.

If you're like me you'll make lots of them, but after a while you'll get quite good at covering them up.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 26-10-2014, 11:13 PM

Gunna be great when you can setup an imaging run on a warm summer evening......and then jump in the pool!

you win!

Mike

Paul Haese · #12 27-10-2014, 09:11 AM

Looks great Kev. Professional looking finish too, I have certainly seen decks less professional looking from tradesman.

I bet though the deck gets extended around the pool edge at some point soon.

I like the idea of a curved roof too. A good design concept. That will give you plenty of clearance too for larger scopes.

With regard to the roof, just maybe plan for a rail to support a rack and pinion drive system. You may decide at some point to automate the roof and planning this now will help with later modifications.

I look forward to looking at the finished structure.

Dealy (Kev) · #13 28-10-2014, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Gunna be great when you can setup an imaging run on a warm summer evening......and then jump in the pool!

you win!

Mike

Mike I was thinking of your post last night when I was floating in the pool staring up at the stars - Bewwtiful

My kids bought a bar fridge for the observatory for father's day so it's all starting to come together.

Paul you are right on both counts. My wife is already asking me extending the deck around the pool.

And concerning the roll-off - the first thing I bought for the observatory while in the planning stage was an electric gate opener for the roof. I had to work out clearances etc. So it should simply be a matter of unlocking the roof stays and pressing a button to open her up.

Thanks for the comments,
Kev

strongmanmike (Michael) · #14 28-10-2014, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dealy

Mike I was thinking of your post last night when I was floating in the pool staring up at the stars - Bewwtiful

My kids bought a bar fridge for the observatory for father's day so it's all starting to come together.Kev

Eeeexcellent....

Dealy (Kev) · #15 15-11-2014, 09:04 PM

Another few days work:

1. Rafters completed and ready for installation

2. Rafters in place. There is still another one to go on the overhang on each end.

3. View from the pool deck end

4. View of the wheels. They run in an aluminium 'C' channel.

Today my mate Jeff and I fitted some noggings between the rafters and hung a beam off the rafters for the automatic opener rack.

We then fitted the auto gate opener and gave the button it's first press. Yeehaa. See here [URL="http://youtu.be/-FaILPS31VA"]

A few bugs still to iron out. When the roof sheeting goes on it will stiffen the roof and take out all the flex. I will then adjust all the wheels to make sure it's tracking correctly.

Overall I'm very happy with the outcome so far.

I have to work next weekend and will be camping the one after so progress will be slow for a while

Kev