Commercial builders have long understood the viability and benefit of rooftop amenities. Many a downtown area hotel has a rooftop pool or restaurant, in order to provide guests with views and relaxation options that might not otherwise be possible due to space limitations.
Residential homeowners in Sarasota and Longboat Key are discovering the benefits of a rooftop oasis as well. Here are some great ideas and reasons why you may want to think a little higher when building your custom home.
Rooftop Oasis Inspiration
- Capture your View: Some communities have restrictions on how high you can build – often three stories. If you live two blocks from the water but there are homes in your line of vision, creating a rooftop space is a great way to guarantee your view while still staying within the legal guidelines. Set up a sitting area and break out the binoculars – then enjoy your nightly sunset views without obstruction.
- Get Your Suntan On: If you love spending time in the sun but don t have time to prepare for the beach, just run upstairs and grab a lounge chair. Here’s what we love about a rooftop space for sunbathing – you can create a completely shady backyard with awnings, umbrellas and shade trees, and then you can have the best of all worlds.
- Grill Out in Style: Set up an outdoor kitchen and eating area, and you can host the ultimate barbeque. The rooftop will allow for plenty of room for cooking, mingling and eating – al under the open air.
- Immerse Yourself in Beauty: One of our favorite ways to utilize a rooftop is to create a rooftop garden, full of tropical flowers and plants, or attractive to birds and butterflies. Grow an herb or vegetable garden, and enjoy fresh produce. The roof affords the perfect opportunity for a robust and healthy garden, whatever you prefer to cultivate.
- Go Swimming: We admit it, rooftop pools are rare. There are some construction challenges, but for those who have waterfront homes and views of the Gulf sunset, an infinity pool is the ultimate in decadence. You won’t be able to tell where the roof ends and nature begins, creating an unrivaled ambiance for you and your guests. Just remember the grandeur of the rooftop pool at the 5 star hotel – it can be yours.
- Fitness with a View: Create your own fitness facility, and working out suddenly becomes more inviting. Worried about your equipment? Simply build a glass room in which to work out.
- Exercise Your Dog: If you do not have a fenced in yard, you may not be able to allow your pets to roam freely. But with the proper restraints in place, you can give your dog the ability to run around to their heart’s content.
- Firepit under the Stars: Set up a firepit and a few comfy chairs, then enjoy balmy evenings with friends under the open night sky, catching the breezes you cant feel on the ground.
When designing a rooftop oasis, remember that it will get very warm up there. So provide yourself with awnings or umbrellas for shade, or consider adding misters to keep you (and your plants and pets) cool. Consider a small fountain or water feature to cool things down, and be sure to have appropriate railings or walls.
The experts at Lindahl Construction have the experience you need when creating dramatic custom features for your new home. Ask us about a rooftop design for your home, and we can help with zoning, permits and practical tips. If you are short on space but long on inspiration, look up! A Sarasota rooftop can be a magical place.