December 2008: With all eight stud wall frames done it was time to nail on the outer cladding. To help keep out the damp, I first stapled on a sheet of heavy gauge builders plastic on the outside of the stud wall frames. This was then covered with the outer cladding - 3/4" tongue and groove floor planking that had first been liberally painted in brown Protim wood preservative - I defy any woodworm to try dining on my observatory!! The plastic sheet was deliberately cut too large to allow for wrap-around on the top and sides, and to allow a skirt to hang down outside the floor joists.
Above: Moisture membrane on stud wall
Above: Partially clad wall with window.
Of the eight walls, the three north, north-east and north-west walls will be solid, while the west, south-west, south-east and east walls will all have windows, and the door will be in the south facing wall.
Above: South stud wall with main entrance.
The next step is to knock up a door and four windows and shutters and add a little decorative detail to take the garden shed look off it!
If the Keck Observatory can sport a double moniker (Keck North and Keck South) then so can The Ochra Observatory!
