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I have a problem [amongst many others] that I am rained upon by the overhanging veranda. This occurs whenever I am entering or leaving the observatory building. The problem [apart from the free showers] is whether to build a concealed roof panel. Simply to throw the water away from the doors below. Or whether 'tis nobler to build a properly showy porch with pillars and whatnot.
And, if pillars, then what kind of pillars? No, not Corinthian. I mean square or round? And of which dimensions to impress sufficiently to warrant the considerable effort? Is entasis a good idea? Or merely an affectation of the wealthy? Whom can easily afford the craftsmen to accomplish the task for them.
Meanwhile I trimmed the trapdoor ropes to length and tied them with fisherman's knots.
Being strictly non-crafts person. Not to mention remote from the USA market in GRP and timber columns. I am faced with a questionable spot of DIY. Plastic drainpipes immediately spring to mind. If only they weren't usually orange to avoid digger drivers chewing them up once laid underground as intended.
White or grey? They'd still look like a PVC drainpipe standing on its head. Though entasis is easily achieved with a few notches, some PVC solvent cement, a heat gun and a strap wrench or two, but still. It certainly makes one think of the possibilities. There is no need for load bearing construction. The veranda is self supporting and the columns merely [and hopefully] decorative. What puts me off the whole idea is the clash with my rustic ethic of bare wood and plywood.
It's getting worse! The green, "wood protection" paint on the dome is bubbling up all over. As it, quite literally, lifts bodily off the white primer. The green paint was top quality and supposed to last for 15 years. How do you sand a whole dome up on the second floor? It looks as if my ladder lashups are in for a repeat showing. I shall have to buy in a load of sanding sheets for the orbital sander. Next spring sounds like a much better idea. Given a typical winter, half the paint should have fallen off by then. No point in accelerating the breakdown of the plywood. Meanwhile I shall be seriously considering alternatives. Though [hopefully] not polyester resin and glass matt!
Because the dome was made to a trapezoidal panel design it does not suffer from sphericity. In other words, it does not follow a 3D curve. So flat materials can be fixed or draped over it. PVC tarpaulin, for example could be covered in complete drops from the top to the bottom of the dome. Only the edge seams would need to be welded. By heat or by solvent. Since there would be no horizontal seams the rain would roll off without seeking entry to the structure. The obvious downside is reaching the entire structure. Oh, and increased weight. Though there is the option of removing the plywood panels and rely only on the PVC for sealing. The dome would become a tent.
In a perfect world there would be the perfect adhesive tape. Tape the seams, paint to match [if need be] and the job is done. I have no idea if such tape is available with long guaranteed lifetimes of adhesion out of doors in all weathers. Despite the claims of the vendors, real world users claim otherwise in their reviews.
And, if pillars, then what kind of pillars? No, not Corinthian. I mean square or round? And of which dimensions to impress sufficiently to warrant the considerable effort? Is entasis a good idea? Or merely an affectation of the wealthy? Whom can easily afford the craftsmen to accomplish the task for them.
Meanwhile I trimmed the trapdoor ropes to length and tied them with fisherman's knots. Being strictly non-crafts person. Not to mention remote from the USA market in GRP and timber columns. I am faced with a questionable spot of DIY. Plastic drainpipes immediately spring to mind. If only they weren't usually orange to avoid digger drivers chewing them up once laid underground as intended.
White or grey? They'd still look like a PVC drainpipe standing on its head. Though entasis is easily achieved with a few notches, some PVC solvent cement, a heat gun and a strap wrench or two, but still. It certainly makes one think of the possibilities. There is no need for load bearing construction. The veranda is self supporting and the columns merely [and hopefully] decorative. What puts me off the whole idea is the clash with my rustic ethic of bare wood and plywood.
It's getting worse! The green, "wood protection" paint on the dome is bubbling up all over. As it, quite literally, lifts bodily off the white primer. The green paint was top quality and supposed to last for 15 years. How do you sand a whole dome up on the second floor? It looks as if my ladder lashups are in for a repeat showing. I shall have to buy in a load of sanding sheets for the orbital sander. Next spring sounds like a much better idea. Given a typical winter, half the paint should have fallen off by then. No point in accelerating the breakdown of the plywood. Meanwhile I shall be seriously considering alternatives. Though [hopefully] not polyester resin and glass matt!
Because the dome was made to a trapezoidal panel design it does not suffer from sphericity. In other words, it does not follow a 3D curve. So flat materials can be fixed or draped over it. PVC tarpaulin, for example could be covered in complete drops from the top to the bottom of the dome. Only the edge seams would need to be welded. By heat or by solvent. Since there would be no horizontal seams the rain would roll off without seeking entry to the structure. The obvious downside is reaching the entire structure. Oh, and increased weight. Though there is the option of removing the plywood panels and rely only on the PVC for sealing. The dome would become a tent.
In a perfect world there would be the perfect adhesive tape. Tape the seams, paint to match [if need be] and the job is done. I have no idea if such tape is available with long guaranteed lifetimes of adhesion out of doors in all weathers. Despite the claims of the vendors, real world users claim otherwise in their reviews.
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