Category : Observatory Build

Bolting Down The Astronomy Pier

Posted on: October 2, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

As you probably know I purchased an Astro Engineering Pro Pier and drilled the holes for the pier bolts at the time I laid the slabs for the base of the shed. I had thought I was going to secure the bolts at the same time of laying the slabs, but I must admit got

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Observatory Finishing Touches

Posted on: August 28, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

Once the roof had been put on and the opening doors re-attached, the work on the observatory was far from over. To begin with, the next day rain was forecast, and that was the first test of the roof. I sat in the shed whilst the rain lashed down on the roof, and after a

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Completing the Observatory Roof

Posted on: August 11, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

After painting the inside of the shed all black, all the jobs had been completed except for the setting the bolts in the ground (which is another post) but first I waited a week or so for my dad to come over and help me work on the roof. We began by taking the roof

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Painting the Observatory

Posted on: July 22, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

Once I had installed the Plywood panels, I needed to paint the walls. I was worried to begin with whether I required a grey undercoat or if I could just paint on a black one-coat paint, or should I go for the blackboard paint which is non-reflective. In the end I purchased two tins of

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Adding Plywood Boards to Observatory Shed

Posted on: July 14, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

Once I had cut up the polystyrene sheets for insulation and slotted them into the recesses of the shed walls, I had ordered 7 sheets of 8ftx4ft – 6mm plywood to go over the top, these were also to be painted black. Before I could install the plywood, I had discovered that the shed recesses

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Insulating the Observatory Shed

Posted on: June 29, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

Once the pent shed was erected, I then considered the insulation and the types of products I could use. I went for 50mm polystyrene sheets which measured 8ft x 4ft, again I ordered these from Buildbase as they were a lot cheaper than Travis Perkins, at around £7.50 each inc VAT. I also ordered some

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Observatory Build – Drilling The Pier Holes

Posted on: June 5, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

Saturday morning I carried on mixing cement and laying the slabs. At about 11am I had a break and went off to my local tool hire shop where I hired the SDS Drill and 110V to 240V converter to make the holes in the concrete for the pier bolts, which cost about £19 for the weekend. I

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Observatory Build – Laying the Slabs

Posted on: June 4, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

It was now the weekend again, and the concrete has been left about a week to set. It was now time to lay the slabs for the base of the shed. All week during the evenings I have also been staining the shed. In the end I managed two coats on all sides of the

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Observatory Build Continues

Posted on: May 26, 2009 /
Categories: Observatory Build

Things are still pressing ahead around normal paid work and looking after my son. But today I had the shed delivered and the slabs, sand and cement from Buildbase. Whilst unloading the van I remembered just how heavy the 600mm concrete slabs really are and how they will break my back when I come to

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