Sky High Opportunities for Roofing Surfaces

By Dani Sheehan. 

With fresh perspective and fresh air, people and activities are increasingly moving up for the view from above. 

Gone are the days when the roofs of commercial buildings simply provided structure and protection from the elements. Now, apartments use them as community spaces to encourage residents to gather, restaurants advertise rooftop bars for a different view of the skyline, and rooftop farms have brought agriculture and sustainability to the city.  

The outdoor dining experience has gained popularity in the post-pandemic era, but well before they were moving tables into the street, upscale urban restaurants offered a unique experience at the top of the skyline. Now, rooftop bars are the place to be any time of year. A few years behind other major cities, rooftop bars in Sydney offer patrons a more exclusive and intimate gathering place than the patios on the street. At the Shell House Sky Bar, they thoughtfully designed the seating tailored to the skyline to allow the best views from every seat. 

Interestingly, the history of rooftop gatherings dates to the late 1800s, particularly in New York. After seeing urban gardens in Europe being used as areas for art and performances, a businessman wanted to emulate those parties in Manhattan. The lack of space led him to the roofs of the buildings where gardens were planted, and rooftop concerts provided a cooler area than indoor theaters throughout the summer. The use of air conditioning by the 1950s slowed this trend, and it wasn’t until the early 2000s that major cities returned to the idea.  

Featuring a rooftop bar or deck on a large, commercial building does not come without some obstacles, however. As with any outdoor space, weather becomes a factor, as well as load-bearing and other physical limitations of the building. Maintenance is extremely important, and like any roof it needs to be watertight, fireproof and structurally sound. It’s easy to treat this space like an extension of an indoor dining room, but it requires additional consideration that roofers know best. 

As people continue to move to the city and space becomes scarce, more people are looking for unique opportunities to grow up rather than out. See how this revolution has led to the green-roof movement introducing urban rooftop farms and gardeners no longer need a lawn to guarantee their green thumb. Once a symbol of shelter and protection, a roof now represents anything from a gathering space with good friends to a chance to bring nature into the concrete jungle and so much more.