How do you convert a rooftop hatch and submarine style ladder to a true rooftop stairwell and roof access?

My condo building in Bushwick, Brooklyn has roof top access via a rooftop hatch and a submarine style ladder that runs 12-18 feet from a landing to the roof. The other condo owners in the building and I don’t feel safe accessing the roof this way and would like to extend our stairwell up to the roof with a normal rooftop exit (one of those housing things) and get rid of the hatch. All the other buildings on our side of the block are duplicates of one another and all have normal roof top accesses. Our developer mentioned our building use to have one of these type exits, but he claimed he had to get rid of it to make room for our new metal stairwell. Interestingly, our top floor landing has a dummy wall and it could easily be removed to add a steep stairwell to the roof. We would probably have to open up part of the roof to allow for a proper exit. Long story short, we are in the planning stages of this and have no idea where to begin or who to contact to help us with this project.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated to get us pointed in the right direction.

prepuofa

in Construction 12 years and 10 months ago

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kellyj | 12 years and 7 months ago

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What kind of cost is associated with just adding the spiral staircase and replacing the ladder to grant outside access?

allrenovation | 12 years and 10 months ago

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http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4ffedbdd4e362-processed-IMG_4524.JPG

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4ffedcb50cc5c-processed-IMG_4521.jpg

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4ffedc779c767-processed-IMG_0455.jpg

All Renovation Construction LLC (http://www.allrenovationllc.com) did something similar for a client on Dean St., we converted a hatch-and-ladder roof access to a spiral staircase with a bulkhead leading to a new brownstone roof-deck.  You can view more pictures here: http://www.allrenovationllc.com/all-project-photos?shashin_album_key=38

brucef | 12 years and 10 months ago

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Bear in mind that new, larger roof opening will need to be in steel goin all the way across unless your structural is already steel. This is a way larger job than you probably think. Structural engineer may be necessary for reframed opening.

jockdeboeraia | 12 years and 10 months ago

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You will need to file plans with DOB to show the new acess, either a bulkhead or a longer hatch to allow a walkup stair.