Hi
While I have an observatory (if we can call it that...)
I keep thinking about the next rebuild with proper base and only the roof spinning around etc.
As I have been toying with ideas in my head, it occurred to me that the rolling/sliding cover for the open slit on top of the roof could potentially be a roll up garage door cut to about 1 meter wide, in tracks etc.
could be motorized easily and eliminate the problem of where it goes at "the other end" when you open it.
I'd thought about using a roller door but as a whole side wall/roof rather than just the ob slit. There are smaller lighter versions (Aluminium rather than steel) used as the back doors on delivery trucks eg which might be easier to convert. Possibly also 12 volt motor operation and smaller roller assemblies available. Weight and water leakage would need to be managed but if it was wider than the slit with internal channels to direct that away maybe.
Worthy of some research and a design exercise I would say. I have also seen clear plastic roller door systems of similar construction.
Biggest problem might be that you would have to assist the closing movement as normally garage doors of that type use gravity to drop down.
Definitely possible in my books.
Roller doors are sprung internally, and as zero pointed out they need gravity to make them fall. If you did do this the things to overcome are water egress throught the guides and the door would have to be pulled down from the bottom of the roller door against a very large load from the internal spring. If you do not use the internal spring, they don't roll up.
The doors on the backs of trucks are roller shutters, which unlike roller doors are made of individual slats that are 50mm to 100mm and interlock. When these doors are mounted vertically they are water tight but when laid flat can leak. The polycarbonate doors have the same issues as the roller door with spring tension, but they are a hell of a lot dearer.
I quoted just this week to supply and fit a 1.1m by 1.2 polycarbonate door in a pub, it was just under 2k which is considered a good price. Aluminium shutters are the same price as the polycarbonate.
My 2c: I install garage/commercial doors for a living, so I know them back to front, but I would just make a sliding shutter. Its cheaper and easier.
Agree with everything Brett says, there are cheaper options out there. Using a typical roller door would create more headaches. I used to manufacture roller doors for one of Australias biggest Roller door Manufacturer, now I am in the warehouse. I did however use the guides from a roller door once on a 2.3m domed observatory, I did modify them quite a bit though to prevent water coming in. I am currently building a roll off roof Observatory, which will include the Sectional Panel profile as part of the roof, but this is mainly for strength and to allow me to add insulation later, it serves no water tight solution.
Hey Martin!
That's very much along the lines i was thinking.
Similar sort of door type too.
I'd been thinking i'd cut mine 1 meter wide and have it go through similar tracks (semi circle arc tracks onthe dome.
Can I ask what kind of door it is (if it has a specific model name/type ?
Now that is nice and tidy for sure. Any leakage problems through the door or at the edges ? I reckon you could run it overlapping a ridge line that would stop water coming in.
Better go and check TradeMe for garage door assemblies.
