This was the most challenging part of the build.
The mechanism I was going to use to make the roof roll, is to use the same parts they use for panel roller doors.
I went to a local roller door manufacturer and and purchased the overhead channels and skates that are used when a panel roller door is opened and slide along the ceiling. They where kind enough to cut the curved ends off so I just had straight roller channels.
The next step was to create rails with the holders for the skate rollers. These rails will be what the roof trusses sit on.
After fitting the skates, they are flipped over. I the lift the roof trusses and secure them to these rails.
As there were only two of us working on this project, we originally constructed the roof in place on top of the walls and attached them to the wall frame.
For this next step, we simply jacked up the roof about 30cm, so it gave us room to install the rails and rollers.
There are five roller braces on each of the rails. 10 in total for the whole roof.
The wheels on axles are inserted into the braces and the entire rail is then lifted into the tracks under the roof, which is currently up on blocks. The Roof is then lowered onto these rails and bolted on to these rails.
The roller rails are now fitted in place and the roof lowered and attached.