13 replies to this topic

[Brian Deis]

I am currently building my 3rd observatory. We are making use of the dome and base ring of our Technical Innovations PD10. The building is a 16x16ft square with slanted roof. (Image attached) The trouble we are having is that TI is no longer manufacturing the rectangular skirt needed to place the round dome on a square structure. We’ll install the proper wood support frame to connect the base ring to the roof but our contractor is at a bit of a loss as to how to ensure there is a good conversion and water seal with the two different shapes.
If anyone has run into this issue before I would appreciate hearing your solution.
Clear Skies,
Brian

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[TOMDEY]

I'd suggest making a transition from that square hole to a short cylindrical wall... and topping that with the dome in the traditional way. This way, in your New Jersey climate... snow will not pile up around the bottom edge of the dome... which would otherwise be terrible in many ways... especially invitation to water seepage. This also substantially solves the water run-off issues regarding the roofing. You can use a stock ~snow rake / roof rake~ to pull snow off that fairly flat part along the edges and away from the cylindrical center part. That would be ergonomic and easy to maintain --- and would also look attractive.      Tom

[kathyastro]

I used the Exploradome plans for my building.  Structurally similar (my building is 10'x10'), but with the addition of corner pieces to make an octagonal opening (photo).  The rotation ring stands on the octagon.

 

I have thought about how I would do the roof if I ever replace the plastic roof panels, which are not entirely satisfactory.  

 

There isn't much room between the rotation ring and the dome skirt for framing, so the waterproofing there has to be thin.  There is no room for framing.  Since the waterproofing is in the building wrap (e.g. Tyvek), I would have the wrap extend up to surround the rotation ring under the dome skirt, and tape it in place.  The flat-ish roof surfaces can have plywood over the wrap and shingles over the plywood, but those are mostly for mechanical and radiation protection.  I am not sure how you would protect the wrap on the vertical part of the rotation ring.  Tape, maybe?  Very thin plywood, perhaps?

 

[drprovi57]

Consider contracting with a roofing company that specializes in metal and flat/rubber roofing.  My Ash Dome roof is flat and has a rubber membrane installed on the flat portion that includes the dome riser part - a continuous seal from water penetration.  Observatory has been dry for over 5 years - the roof has a 20 year warranty.  Here are some pics of the build:

 

Jason

 

 

 

 

[Brian Deis]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I am forwarding to our contractor.

[MHamburg]

drprovi57- What a beautiful obs!

Michael

[drprovi57]

drprovi57- What a beautiful obs!

Michael

Thanks Michael, I have been on a 10 year journey with observatories.  First was a 12ftx14ft roll-off-roof that I built.  It served me well for several years, but the wind and dew was challenging at times.  I converted the ROR observatory into a dome observatory, purchased Technical Innovation 8ft dome. I also installed a second dome observatory (8ft Exploradome and circular walls, my brother uses it for remote imaging from New Jersey).  I got hooked on domes.  But after several years I decided I need more room and an attached warm room.  So the pictures I provided is the result of some designing and working with a local contractor, who was great to work with.  The 12.5ft Ash Dome is definitely a step above the commercial fiberglass domes - built incredibly strong to hold up in all kinds of weather - unfortunately, these Ash Dome are expensive.  About 1.5 years ago, I decided I missed the ROR observatory (great for visual observing and outreach) so, I went with a 10ftx10ft Pier Tech observatory  - pretty much turn key and automated.  Again, these are expensive.  

 

As you can see I have a love for ROR and dome observatories  .   I decided about a year ago I needed a remote observatory - did a lot of research and ended up at SRO (Sierra Remote Observatories, California).  I just finished a 10ftx12ft ROR (11ft off the ground - tall piers) - constructed by local contractor.  It contains a dedicated 6" refractor solar scope (for detail solar imaging) as well as a Planewave CDK20 of an L550 mount for DSO imaging.

 

It has been a great journey into observatory designs and construction

 

Jason 

 

 

[MHamburg]

All I can say is AMAZING!

Michael

[CreatorsHand]

I acquired a PD10 set on a 12' x 12' base from a friend after her husband passed away. To seal the top of the base around the dome, he went to a roofing contractor and had a rubber roof installed, which included a skirt that was added and attached to the dome. The top 2/3 of one base ring was used under the dome to attach it to the base, and the skirt was attached to the partial base ring. The contractor that built it also bent a 3" x 3" x 1/4" angle iron in a 10' diameter, and this was used to help anchor the dome to the base. The dome was set up in Northeast Tennessee, so they didn't have to worry much about snow, and the base as built won't work in the Northern portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula where I live, but I thought that the example might help in your planning. I now have it in my pole barn, and haven't figured out for sure how I am going to build a base for it; I am concerned that a square base may be problematic with the snows we get, and am leaning toward building a round base to alleviate some of those concerns. I am torn because I would like the extra space a square base would provide, but it is not uncommon to get 18" to 24" of wet snow in November, which would require a strong roof not to mention a lot of snow removal to use the dome.

 

Paul

 

[CreatorsHand]

A couple more closer shots for details, from when I was disassembling the dome to bring it home..

 

Paul

 

 

[Brian Deis]

Thanks Paul,
I will share the images with our contractor, who decided to make use of a metal flange shaped to the curve of the base ring. It will attach to the underside of same and slope away. The dome will sit on top of a sloped roof structure built strong enough to handle heavy snow loads.
Clear Skies,
Brian

[CreatorsHand]

Thanks Paul,
I will share the images with our contractor, who decided to make use of a metal flange shaped to the curve of the base ring. It will attach to the underside of same and slope away. The dome will sit on top of a sloped roof structure built strong enough to handle heavy snow loads.
Clear Skies,
Brian

You are welcome, Brian. It sounds like your contractor has a similar plan to the contractor that originally built mine (except that for my dome the angle iron didn't slope away). In the case of my dome, the contractor had welded angle iron braces that connected to wall studs to support the roof so the roof structure itself didn't need much strength. I brought the bent 3" x 3" angle iron home in case I could re-use it, but I had to cut it into 4 pieces to be able to move it and to get it into the truck. I believe that there were also pieces of angle iron welded onto the ring that went between the top of the remaining base ring and the bottom of the dome proper. My bigger concern is snow build-up on the roof of the base interfering with dome rotation, which is why I am leaning toward a round base. Please post pictures of your project as it progresses; it might inspire me to reconsider and just plan on having a snow rake handy. I still have to clear an acre of trees before I can build mine, so it may be a while.

 

Clear skies,

Paul

[Brian Deis]

Paul,

 

Thank you for the information. When I forwarded your images to our contractor he said "keep them coming." I'll post some images as things progress.

 

Clear Skies,

Brian

[Brian Deis]

Here is the latest of the building that will support the Dome.  We are balancing the need for head room inside the structure, a slightly slanted roof and a low enough structure for observing. 

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