Building a rooftop room
I’d like to lay claim to roof access and add a small room up top (maybe prefab?). Has anybody gone down this road before?
I have the top floor apartment in a brownstone and am trying to research the issues that might be involved in building up. I’d like to lay claim to roof access and add a small room up top (maybe prefab?). Has anybody gone down this road before? Are there fire-regulations/issues in privatizing access to the roof? If I go up on my roof and survey the area nobody else has built up, so I am also concerned with general permits, or if this is even allowed. It seems like a wonderful idea but a monster headache. Any thoughts or advice?
What do you mean by you ‘have’ the top floor apartment? Is it a condo/coop that you own? A place that you’re renting? Do you own the building? Your options depend on those questions, imho, so you should clarify for advice.
There are several houses on 3rd Street just below 8th Avenue in Park Slope that have small buildings on the roof of the houses. If you walk up 3rd Street (above 8th Avenue) and look down, you can see them. You may want to ring their bell and ask how they did it.
Issues:
Is there available Zoning Floor Area on your lot?
Are you in a Landmarks District?
Can the existing building structural handle the additional load?
Will this create any rooftop servicing issues or egress issues?
Yes, you need permits, you also need the approval of your building management.
Hire an architect. It’s done very often and would look amazing. It’s all a matter of how much you want it and are willing to spend.