Adding a roof deck to your NYC townhouse is one of the best ways to enjoy all that life has to offer. Whether you live in Queens, Brooklyn, or Manhattan, roof decks are an excellent way to increase property value and make your home feel more like a resort. Building a roof deck can be done in stages- from small additions such as railing systems and solar panels for electricity production up through glass roofs with multiple skylights. It’s important that you find the right roofing contractor who will work within your budget and help you design the perfect roof deck or it may be the ground-level decks.

What can the structure of the roof handle?

You’re in luck if the house you own has the roof deck in the Manhattan townhouse that was built in the last 10 or 15 years. The new architecture is frequently made to specifications that make converting the roof to usable space easier. It’s possible that the top is already easily accessible and strengthened. If your townhouse is a brick construction erected in the late 1800s, as most are, the roof was not designed to support people or heavy cargo. The deck material should have a quality-oriented strand board for a sturdy roof handle. it’s usually not practical to go up there and put in roof pavers or faux turf.

If you don’t want to complete the upper-level renovation and only want to work on the roof decking, adding a new roof deck, or even metal decking, you might try floating a recreational rooftop deck over the existing roof surface. This has several advantages for starters, it does not necessitate any roof reinforcement or roof replacement. It also ensures you aren’t interfering with the roof’s drainage system and railings.

How will you access the roof?

If you have easy access to your roof, you can build a deck on it. A direct access route to the roof is required to make the space useable and practical. Nobody likes to use a location that requires climbing a ladder, and moving objects up and down a ladder is dangerous. Negotiating a ladder would be difficult even with a lightweight lawn chair and a tall drink of iced tea. The decision to build a deck should rule out any place that lacks a convenient access path and the decking material and composite decking.

In most older New York City townhouses, there are no steps to the roof. They’ll have a ladder and a hatch instead. When you add a stairwell with access, you’ll almost always have to change the roof structure. TCI Manhattan Roofing Repair Services NYC will help you in your roof access.

Is your build affected by Green-roof requirements?

All buildings undertaking a substantial roof refurbishment must now add solar panels or a green roof component to comply with new legislation. The modifications primarily affect new buildings. Planting may be one of your goals for a roof redesign; after all, it may assist absorb water when it rains and keep direct sun exposure on your roof, and lowering your energy bills.

How much weight are you adding?

There are various sorts of planted roofs to consider if you’re seeking a green roof. Seedlings and trays are used in “extensive” systems, which are not designed to be walked on. However, an “intense” system will resemble a garden, with soil deep enough to support plants and trees. Although a floating intensive system can be installed, opening up the ceiling on the floor below to reinforce the roof framing system to handle the load of roofing materials. Some claim that they reinforced their roof with twice as many steel I-beams as required because they are concerned about the weight of snow that may accumulate throughout the winter. Of course, that was never an issue, but the extra support has given him the confidence to install large planters and furnishings.

Is a new Drainage System required?

Over existing roof coverings, extensive roof decks can be built as long as the roof deck is made of a flexible membrane rather than solid concrete. However, suppose you’re creating an expansive roof deck. In that case, a new drainage system should be considered because the weight may necessitate roof construction adjustments that may cost more than merely adding gutters or downspouts.

Rainwater falling on a floating deck will drain in the same manner as it did previously. However, you’ll need to change the drainage if you plan on laying pavers or planting straight on the roof (as well as the level of reinforcement). In most cases, new waterproofing membranes and sealants will be required.

Is your house in a Historic District?

If you live in a historic district and want to add roof pavers, you must first acquire permission from the city. Then, you’ll be needed to submit deck design plans for approval. The Landmark Preservation Commission must approve any renovations you make to a structure in an NYC historic district. Vance claims that he uses every square inch of roof space in most situations but that visible railings may cause LPC to object, and they may need to be set back from the building’s edge.

Does the roof already have railings?

The building code requires a 42-inch guardrail above the highest walkable surface. Therefore, if your roof already has railings, but you decide to lay two-inch pavers on top of them, your bars may not be code-compliant. You might be able to use the railings that are already on the roof. However, if they are modified or rebuilt, they will have to comply with new building code requirements. These should not be more than four inches from a wall and must have a mid-rail along the top based on some studies.

New Yorkers are no longer especially eager to buy properties with shared indoor amenities.

Homeowners now prefer Roof decks or new roof decks, for example, which can significantly increase the value of a home. New Yorkers are less interested in purchasing homes with shared indoor amenities. However, roof decks, for example, can add significant value to a property and maybe your only option if you live in an older townhouse with no outside area or don’t have the means to expand your living space.

Want to add a Roof deck to your NYC townhouse?