In cities today, the cost of real estate has soared. To make housing more affordable, developers have made lot cuts smaller and smaller. In some cases, houses and buildings have completely occupied the entire lot, giving birth to the “zero lot” concept. Garden space has become a luxury. But aren’t there any alternatives open to us? Should this stop us from enjoying the outdoors? I think not.
There is a part of every house that remains under utilized… the roof. The roof area approximates the building footprint in size. It is designed to be sturdy enough to protect us from the elements. It is generally unobstructed and unused. It is, therefore, a prime candidate for reinvention, to serve a greater purpose! Why not?
The roof of a house, regardless of size, could be designed as a roof deck for additional floor space. It can have a variety of functions. It may nobly serve as laundry and drying area. It may be used as an entertainment and party area. It may be furnished with an endless choice of outdoor furniture, plants, and sport accessories. For those with a more sophisticated lifestyle, the roof deck may be beautifully landscaped into an oasis, literally “above it all”. There are a variety of plants that would grow on decks. Sometimes even fruit trees could thrive. You could add a bar, a barbeque grille, water features, Jacuzzis, pools, teak furniture, canvas umbrellas, water cooling misters … an endless array of leisure equipment.
In our country, where cement is the building material of choice, decks are not difficult to construct. Although problems regarding leaks, drainage, and waterproofing do exist, several very viable solutions abound. A well-designed deck is just as leak proof as a well-designed roof. Expensive waterproofing is not a must; it is only a second line of defense. The secret of a leak proof deck is in establishing the proper slope and drainage, combined with an adequately reinforced monolithic slab. The cost of constructing a deck is not daunting, even when compared to its tin roof counterpart, especially if you consider the benefits and advantages it offers.
Aside from the benefit of space, here are some more advantages. It insulates the rest of your house better than a tin roof would. It conforms to most building height requirements. With it, you can create more distinctive house forms and designs. You acquire a better view and perhaps fresher air. Stargazing is likewise a bonus. Other advantages include expandability. With a roof deck, it is easy to add another floor later on without inconveniencing the occupants of the lower floor. It can even be constructed during the rainy season, since a slab is already in place. It is also generally safer.
The picture shows my personal deck placed above the garage. In this case, instead of putting a roof, a deck made more sense. Now I have extra living space to entertain and relax. It has turned into one of the most useful parts of the house. The trees around actually sprouted from ground level and were trimmed to complement the upper deck. For a cooler effect, I added a number of water features that run across the deck. I installed an automatic irrigation system to reduce maintenance in watering the plants. Instead of having regular railings, I opted to for water barriers and simple wooden railings to complete the relaxed effect.
The next photo is the roof deck above the Dormitoriana building in Loyola Heights, QC, owned by my father, Marcos C de Guzman. We’ve had great uses for it since it was built last year. Now, it includes a gym, pool table, music lounge, and a spa. We discovered that we prefer this area to the lower garden.
The same kind of deck may be placed above most houses, regardless of size. In fact, the smaller the lot, the more you would need one. So, even if you are not the outdoorsy type, reclaiming a space like this to suit your need could be a pleasant surprise!
Somehow, with a roof deck, the sky seems bigger and the stars more within your grasp. It could make your feel like you’re on top of the world!
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