Building the Roof
The next important challenge was to start to build the roll-off-roof. First I installed the V-groove track on both sides of the supports, fully securing one side and attaching at only one end for the other. I then built the base frame for the roof, opting to use much smaller timbers with the goal of making the roof lightweight and easy to roll off by hand.
After attaching 5 wheels to each side I tested the sliding mechanism, it was extremely smooth on the first try. (Yeah I was surprised too).
So next I decided to construct the roof based upon a pent style. This would keep the whole structure small, allow for rain runoff and also keep more of the sky visible facing North when open.
Next I added some height to the front and added roof joists across, capping the front and back with some left over baton, then boxing in the sides with OSB board.
To cover the roof I opted for an EPDM rubber shed roof kit, this was the only part of the build I enlisted some help on, and conveniently my cousin Marek is a skilled roofer with his own company (Langstone Roofing). With his help we glued down the rubber, trimmed it and fixed around the edges with contact adhesive making the entire roof nice and waterproof.
The final step was finishing off the outside edges with wooden trim, fixed with a continuous silicone bead then screwed in place with a slightly protruding edge to help direct rain off the back of the roof.