Are roof decks a Boston thing?

[FoxInFiji]

Jan 23, 2013 14:51:45 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

I keep seeing it on houses on hgtv shows, not just condos but standalone homes.

I wish they were a Midwest thing. I want one!

Not so fast!  Flat roofs are the worst possible roof you could have on your house especially in snow country.  Without a flat roof you don't have the option of a roof deck so it's not really an option.

[countthestars]

Jan 23, 2013 15:11:02 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Jan 23, 2013 15:06:56 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

Not so fast!  Flat roofs are the worst possible roof you could have on your house especially in snow country.  Without a flat roof you don't have the option of a roof deck so it's not really an option.

They're still all over Chicago.  Even though we get snow here.  Houses tend to be narrow and long here so it's just an entirely different structural equation.  

ETA:  Sometimes people will put them on top of a flat roofed garage, too.  So you'll have stairs up to the roof deck on the garage.

Psssst Fox - there's lots of snow in Boston too

[downtoearth]

Jan 23, 2013 15:06:56 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

Jan 23, 2013 14:51:45 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

I keep seeing it on houses on hgtv shows, not just condos but standalone homes.

I wish they were a Midwest thing. I want one!

Not so fast!  Flat roofs are the worst possible roof you could have on your house especially in snow country.  Without a flat roof you don't have the option of a roof deck so it's not really an option.

Buzz kill, Fiji.

My sister has a rooftop deck in Boston.  She lives on teh 2nd and 3rd floor of a brownstone-style house and the first floor has a garage with a roof that extends out of the kitchen area and is fun to BBQ on. 

[FoxInFiji]

Jan 23, 2013 15:11:02 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Jan 23, 2013 15:06:56 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

Not so fast!  Flat roofs are the worst possible roof you could have on your house especially in snow country.  Without a flat roof you don't have the option of a roof deck so it's not really an option.

They're still all over Chicago.  Even though we get snow here.  Houses tend to be narrow and long here so it's just an entirely different structural equation.  

ETA:  Sometimes people will put them on top of a flat roofed garage, too.  So you'll have stairs up to the roof deck on the garage.

Yes this is why many urban buildings have flat roofs.  There is no room for a pitched roof nor a green drainage area to direct the rain to. 

[fryjack2]

I think its more of a city with little room for outdoor space thing.

We have a private roofdeck in our Boston condo building. Its awesome.

[Deleted]

Nope, I have done numerous roof decks in STL.

[magdala]

Roof decks are an urban thing to get away from the city streets. When it snows, you have to shovel the flat roofs. When Boston got slammed with snow last year, DH and I were shoveling the cars and then the roof.