Rooftop addition
I’m considering building an extension (bedroom & bath w/ deck & garden) on top of a brownstone coop roof for which I have exclusive roof rights. WANTED: 1) Recommendations for engineer/architect who has done this before and is familiar with the necessary permits & city codes. 2) Any words of wisdom from others who have…
I’m considering building an extension (bedroom & bath w/ deck & garden) on top of a brownstone coop roof for which I have exclusive roof rights.
WANTED:
1) Recommendations for engineer/architect who has done this before and is familiar with the necessary permits & city codes.
2) Any words of wisdom from others who have constructed on their rooftops.
hmmm. no one really answered your question.
I’m currently working on 2 projects of this type in Williamsburg. One has been approved and we are waiting for negotiations with a general contractor to start construction. I’m interested in finding out more about your project. Are you still looking for an architect?
…small detail oriented architecture+design studio in Williamsburg, projects range from new construction, additions, to interior renovations.
Please email/call to discuss and arrange a time to see the building.
Happy to assist.
…small detail oriented architecture+design studio in Williamsburg, projects range from new construction, additions, to interior renovations.
Please email/call to discuss and arrange a time to see the building.
Happy to assist.
Article in NYTimes a year or so ago (or maybe Dwell magazine?) which had someone putting a prefab on top of a lower east side apartment building. Pretty cool
Are you sure you have the FAR to build? Roof rights means the right to use the roof, not sure if that includes building on it.
I’m an architect who recently finished a feasibility study that for a client in the West Village with a similar situation. He owned the top floor of a brownstone coop, and he is negotiating for rights for a roof deck. In his case the floor area ratio prevented him from building a penthouse because the footprint of the building already took up so much of its property. However, if the FAR had worked in his favor, there were several techniques that would have allowed us to build a penthouse despite the construction type and limited egress in the building (one stair plus fire escape). It had to be an addition to the existing top apartment, as opposed to an additional apartment, and it could only occupy only a portion of the roof area. Plus its presence in an historic district meant that we needed to stay far enough back from the front façade so as not distract from its appearance from the street. In the past there was a popular interpretation of the FAR that made additions like these easier by counting additional floor space within a unit as a mezzanine and thus not a floor, but I believe that is no longer kosher with the City.
Another big issue to deal with is the waterproofing, very important in a coop where the slightest leak can spoil good relations with your neighbors. There are bad ways to do roof decks, but don’t let anyone tell you that roof decks are doomed to cause leaks. You just have to take the right precautions. Some people built prefabricated wood pallets that are leveled and placed on drainage mats directly over the roofing. Some erect new steel beams between the party walls such that the deck is not in contact with the roofing. The trick is to allow for drainage, to not create opportunities for puddles, and to facilitate regular inspection of the membrane. Its possible that the construction of a roof deck can coincide with the scheduled replacement of the roofing, and this creates opportunities for improvements that can prove to your coop that you are diligent.
Feel free to call me if you would like to discuss this further, at 347 623 5887. Good luck!