Tag patio

Base completed!

Photonstopper
The completed observatory base is of patio construction with a concrete pad beneath decorative concrete pavers. The color of the pavers here is more intense in this picture because they were freshly wetted. We are considering sealing the pavers to enhance the color for a longer term.

Our contractor, taking advantage of a break in the weather, applied Polybind-brand polymeric sand to the observatory’s patio base completing that phase of the project. The space beneath the patio paver stones needed to be dry to allow the sand material to freely flow into all available gaps. Once wetted, the Polybind rapidly cures, sealing out insects and seeds.

Checking with the manufacturer of our Sirius Observatory we learned that production delays will push back our project well into the summer months. Disappointing, to say the least, but good things are worth waiting for. We’re considering now whether to install the steel pier at the center of the base while we wait — with or without a telescope attached, the pier could be covered between uses. With the pier in place, we wouldn’t need to carry out a tripod and mount every time we wish to use the observing pad.

Thinking… thinking…

Waiting for dry weather

Photonstopper
An intense blue sky with a few puffy white clouds over an early spring landscape. Trees line the middle distance while in the foreground, a round, empty patio.
The round patio seen here will form the base and floor of the observatory.

The landscape contractor promised, at the end of last season, that they would return to finish work on our observatory patio. Remaining to be done is installation of polymeric sand in the “grout” lines of the patio pavers. The material will be swept in to fill the gaps between the paver stones with enough getting beneath them to make them stable — the stones rock a bit now when walked upon. We’re told the weather must remain above freezing and the concrete surface beneath the stones must be dry in order for the polymeric sand to properly fill the spaces and cure properly.

One manufacturer wrote this about the benefits of their product: “Polymeric sand is appreciated by paver installers because joints you get from it are durable and even. This eliminates any risk of weed growth and ant infestation that could affect the overall aesthetics and durability of paver projects.” — Techniseal.com

We are likely now beyond freezing temperatures until this fall. Now we await a stretch of dry weather and it may be a while — it has been a very rainy spring!

And now we wait, we’re running late…

Photonstopper
Drawn plan of a patio structure that is to form the base of our observatory. The observatory will be built at the center of the circular paved area while a tapered pathway provides access. An 18-inch Sonotube will form the foundation for a steel pier supporting the telescope.
Drawn plan of a patio structure that is to form the base of our observatory. The observatory will be built at the center of the circular paved area while a tapered pathway provides access. An 18-inch Sonotube will form the concrete foundation for a steel pier supporting the telescope.

Today we approved the final design of the patio that will serve as the base of the observatory. With the observatory structure already on-order, it’s now a waiting game. Dates for delivery/construction of these two main components are uncertain, though the landscape work is expected to start in early November. Depending upon how things unfold we may be in a situation where either the observatory arrives before the base construction begins and we rush to assemble before winter, or the base is built and we wait for the observatory. Either way, depending upon timing and weather conditions, the crated components of the structure may wind up overwintering in our garage! We’re running late.

Observatory Ordered

Photonstopper
A Sirius 7.5-foot observatory configured in the same way as our on-order structure. The base, however, is expected to be much larger. Photo via the manufactuerer

We started the month of August out by {finally} placing our order for a Sirius 7.5-foot observatory. The fiberglass structure will arrive in kit form, to be assembled on-site. We should be able to do most of the work ourselves but may need to hire muscle to lift the dome into place! In the meantime, I’m looking to contract with a landscaper to prepare the build site. We’ve something unique in mind — a hardscape patio, of sorts, that will form a base for the observatory. If and when the observatory eventually needs to be removed, the remaining base will be a paver-style patio with the telescope’s pier foundation serving as mounting point for a fire feature or table! We think it’s pretty clever. We also think it will be expensive. We’ll see what we can actually do!