Given the increasing cost of land and the decreasing size of urban properties it comes as no surprise that our office receives many requests for roof decks. A roof deck, while tricky to waterproof and detail, can be an important exterior space when a property has reached the maximum 45% impervious cover that the city of Austin enforces. Take into account the urban heat sink in Austin, the summer temperatures and increased access to overhead breezes, a roof deck can be a very valuable ammenity.
Third floor roof deck on a recently constructed residence in Travis Heights, Austin, TX.
For those not familiar with Austin's McMansion Ordinace (officially known as Subchapter F in the city zoning code), roof decks are not counted as gross floor area if left uncovered.
On rare occasions we put grass on our roof decks.
Quite often our bar and restaurant designs feature roof decks to get away from the heat and capture a view. (The Dogwood, Houston, TX)