Local Startup Reimagines Roof Deck Spaces, the New Must-Have Amenity

Sponsored By Top-Yard

Top-Yard offers a turnkey system for transforming an unused roof into an oasis.

Created By Brownstoner

Long considered an amenity in New York City real estate, outdoor space is now a near necessity. In fact, sales in buildings with a communal roof deck increased nearly 19 percent in 2021, according to the New York Times.

Enter Top-Yard, a startup that transforms unused rooftops into environmentally friendly living spaces, offering a retreat from the chaos underfoot — or a workspace, garden, you name it.

“We’re working to make rooftop oases — lush, energy generating ones — much more commonplace,” said founder Nicki Adler.

The fact that landlords can charge as much as 33 percent more rent for rooftop access (according to Bloomberg News), and owners can add to an asking price, is also a motivating factor.

But for building owners, the challenges of repurposing a roof are considerable. Typically, especially with townhouses, roofs aren’t designed for living, furniture or vegetation. Insufficient load capacity, the need for re-waterproofing, asbestos abatement or adding beams leads to headaches and a prohibitive cost.

Top-Yard offers a modular solution, a standardized physical system that is constructed above the existing roof and yields enviable efficiencies, from design stage and DOB approvals through the install. “Our installation takes only about one week,” said Adler, “whereas other similar projects can take contractors and their subs months to coordinate and complete.”

One reason why Top-Yard can complete projects quicker is because they consolidate the project management. Building owners don’t need to hire an engineer, design professional, expeditor and contractor. “Top-Yard deals with all of them,” said Adler. “It is turnkey convenience, and our involvement end-to-end allows us to have a much more accurate view of all-in cost for clients.”

Recently, Dena Driver, associate broker for BHS, recently engaged with Top-Yard on a conversion on Henry Street in Brooklyn. “You can spin your wheels trying to get a rooftop job done,” she said, “but Top-Yard has the huge benefit of keeping it simple.”

After the recent conversion at 293 Henry Street, which added a deck to a five-unit building, Driver was able to use the outdoor space as a selling point to rent a couple of the vacant apartments.

“Appraisers value usable outdoor square footage at 25 to 50 percent of the price per square foot of the interior space — technically,” said Driver. “But urban life with a sunny rooftop or backyard is actually priceless.”

Recently, Top-Yard partnered with the engineering team behind the largest rooftop Solar Canopy installation in NYC (on the Javits Center roof), underscoring the company’s ability to include photovoltaic panels for a solar install – and the tax credits that come along with it.

“There is so much potential to build more joyful cities in the vast expanse of vacant roofs,” said Adler.

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[Images via Top-Yard]