Roofing Contractors in New York City

Roofing contractors perform many different tasks for homeowners. They can perform simple maintenance and inspection tasks such as clearing gutters or checking the status of shingles. They can add additional ventilation to a home or completely replace shingles or other roof materials. Roofing contractors can also remove excessive snow and ice from a roof or halt the growth of algae and moss on a roof. The specific tasks vary by location, dependent on climate, building materials, and building styles common to different areas.

Typical Climate in New York City

Since roofs are exposed to the elements at all times, weather can have a large impact on the longevity of roof improvements and type of maintenance required to keep roofs in top condition. The skyscrapers of Manhattan tend to cool off the island in the summer and warm it in the winter. Because of this effect, New York City has cooler summers and warmer winters than surrounding areas. However, it still only has average high temperatures between 37-42 degrees Fahrenheit from December through February each year and average low temperatures that drop into the 25-29 degree range during the same months.

General Information About New York

The majority of buildings in New York City are skyscrapers with many stories and roofs at high elevations in order to the large number of inhabitants. As of July 1, 2007 the population of New York City was 8,310,212 with 1,625,251 people residing within the borough of Manhattan. It is the most populous city in the United States (Los Angeles is second with a mere 3.85 million) and the 13th most populous city in the world. The city encompasses 305 square miles, only 22.96 square miles of which are in Manhattan.

Special Considerations for Roofs of Tall Buildings

Fifteen of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States are located in New York City and the city housed the world's tallest building for 75 consecutive years (from 1899 to 1974). It's also home to two of the three largest concentrations of skyscrapers in the country (midtown Manhattan is first, Chicago's Loop is second, and downtown Manhattan is third). Tall buildings require their own special considerations for roofing.

The gigantic heating and air conditioning systems controlling the temperature within these buildings is nearly always located on the roof. These systems are heavy, require extensive amounts of power, and can leak or emit waste that must be siphoned off the roof. The roofing material must support this weight, sufficient power must be supplied to the roof, and drainage systems devised for their output.

Drainage systems must also be designed to carry water from rain and snow safely down from the roof to the ground far below. These systems are more complex than standard rain gutters used on single-family homes in more rural areas. Snow accumulated on the roof can also get quite heavy, adding to the weight roofs must support. In addition, roofers in New York City may be asked to provide railings or other barriers to prevent people from falling off the roof while shoveling snow.

Tall buildings are more prone to lightning strikes (see section below) and also tend to suffer from the effect of the wind more significantly than their shorter counterparts.

Roofer Training Programs in New York City

There are a variety of roofer training programs available in New York City. The New York City Housing Authority frequently offers classes on specific roofing topics including a one-day class in roof fan maintenance. Additional classes are available through the local OSHA training center in New Jersey, through the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers, and through various other professional associations. The most common method of training, however, is through an apprenticeship with a licensed roofing contractor.

Roofer Licensing in New York City

The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs handles all business licensing within the city. Any person or business performing construction, repair, or remodeling services to residential buildings in New York City must have a Home Improvement Contractor license. In addition, at least one person associated with the company must have a Home Improvement Salesperson license.

Roofing Contractor Trade Organizations in New York City

There are several professional roofing associations available to roofing contractors in New York City. The North East Roofing Contractors Association provides services to roofers in New England and the Northern Mid-Atlantic states including New York. The National Roofing Contractors Association provides training, classes, and tools such as a free wind load calculation application to roofers across the country including New York City. Roofers can also join the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers.

The National Roofing Contractors Association also provides services to consumers looking for information on roofs or for a roofing professional. In addition to a glossary to help homeowners understand roofing issues, they offer a referral service and a series of checklists to help homeowners ensure that they ask the right questions and find a roofer who best meets their specific needs.

Energy Efficient Roofs in New York City/Energy Gathering on the Roofs of New York City

According to a survey by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, New York City is upgrading to green roofs faster than any other city in the United States, thanks in part to tax incentives offered by the state of New York. While most of these roofs are on commercial or civic buildings, many private homeowners and landlords are also upgrading their roofs.

Some of the upgrades include planting beds of water-absorbent plants to reduce storm runoff and lower the effects of urban heat trapping; the capturing of radiant energy in the gaps between rows of skyscrapers. Buildings are also installing solar panels and small wind turbines on their rooftops, generating a portion of their energy needs through these cleaner methods.

New construction in New York City is frequently designed with energy efficiency features from the start, often with rooftop components. The new 46 story Hearst Tower, constructed in a triangular framing pattern that uses 20% less steel than a traditional tower, captures the rain water from its roof and uses it in the building's cooling system, its indoor water sculpture, and to water plants within the building.

Communication Infrastructure on Roofs in New York City

The roofs of New York are home to broadcast antennae, cellular phone transmission towers, and other communications infrastructure that helps keep the city running smoothly. The roof of the Empire State Building was the site of the first television signal broadcast in New York City (on December 22, 1931) and it currently broadcasts the signals for 19 different FM radio stations and 25 television stations. The Conde Nast Building in Times Square also broadcasts signals from 13 FM radio and television stations. Both of these buildings are also among the many skyscrapers housing cellular phone transmission towers on their rooftops.

Lighting Strikes in New York City

The rooftops of taller buildings in New York City act as lightning rods, protecting the surrounding shorter buildings from damage during electrical storms. The top of the Empire State Building alone is struck by lightning over 100 times each year. The top of the Chrysler Building has been struck by lightning so often over the years that its famous spire was literally pockmarked by the impacts before recent restoration work repaired the damage. The incidence of lightning strikes elsewhere in lower Manhattan has increased greatly since the destruction of the World Trade Center and the loss of its extensive array of copper roof plating designed to safely channel electricity from lightning into the ground.

Natural Disasters Affecting Roofs in New York City

New York City is considered the third highest risk for a major hurricane disaster in an American city after Miami and New Orleans, but so far it has not been hit with anything stronger than a category 2 storm causing minimal damage to Long Island and almost no damage to the city itself. The most common natural disaster in New York City is the heat wave which, while extremely unpleasant and life threatening for residents, rarely causes structural damage to buildings. New York City has seen a smattering of smaller earthquakes and tornadoes. A tornado that hit Brooklyn and Staten Island in August, 2007 damaged the roofs of eleven houses in Bay Ridge and tore the roof off of a car dealership on 66th and 5th Avenue.

Unusual Roofs in New York City

New York City has some unusual roofs. Many were designed for specific tasks or incorporate elements based on the business of their original owners. Others are constrained by the physical space allotted for their buildings. The spire of the Empire State Building was originally intended to function as a dirigible docking station, permitting blimps to discharge and load passengers onto its roof. The famous art deco spire of the Chrysler Building is modeled on the grillwork on a 1920s Chrysler car and is constructed from the same material Chrysler used for the hubcaps on its cars of that era. The Flatiron Building got its name because it looks like an old-fashioned clothing iron when viewed from above. The top of the Woolworth Building is a large pyramid surrounded by medieval detailing large enough to be seen clearly from the ground.

Rooftop Recreation in New York City

At one point, New York City was home to over 150 rooftop miniature golf courses. Sadly, none remain, but there are plenty of other recreational opportunities that do. The most famous rooftop recreational facility in Manhattan is the outdoor observatory at the Empire State Building, of course. Several hotels and fitness centers offer rooftop swimming pools including the Printing House Fitness + Squash Club in Greenwich Village. Many playgrounds are on the roof, allowing children to play outside without leaving the safety of their own buildings. You can even watch movies on a variety of New York rooftops during the summer months.

The granddaddy of rooftop recreation in New York City is the Riverbank State Park found on a one million square foot rooftop with both indoor and outdoor facilities. Tennis courts, swimming pools, basketball courts, a softball field, and a 400-meter track surrounding a football and soccer field are among the outdoor options while a larger swimming pool, a skating rink, a theater, and a fitness complex are among the indoor sections of the rooftop park.

Rooftop Dining in New York City

New York City offers a variety of rooftop restaurants and bars ranging from the casual to the elegant to the loud. One of the most famous is the Roof Garden Cafe at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Open daily from 10am until museum closing during the summer, diners can enjoy sandwiches and drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic - while enjoying views of Central Park and selected sculpture owned by the museum.

The aptly named Bookmarks located at the Library Hotel in midtown features wood and wicker and a glass greenhouse allowing indoor dining in case of inclement weather while BED New York combines fine dining during the day with a rock club at night, both featuring tables that are actual beds. You can find a rooftop bar or restaurant in nearly every section of the city, offering spectacular views for the price of a drink.

Rooftop Gardens in New York City

More and more buildings in New York City are starting to grow gardens on their roofs. In some cases, the gardens are part of an energy efficiency program, but in other cases they're for the enjoyment of tenants or even designed to grow fresh herbs and vegetables for their owners. Some gardens are maintained by the building owners while others are the work someone living or working in the buildings. These gardens can be as simple as a row of plants lined up along the edge of the roof or come with full rooftop patio installations surrounding the greenery, making it the center of a larger recreational area.

As rooftop gardens have gotten more popular, several companies have emerged to help design, cultivate, and maintain these gardens. One such company, Alive Structures of Brooklyn, focuses on improving air and water quality through the addition of greenery on New York City roofs. It also stresses the educational and economic opportunities provided by rooftop gardens. Another company, SwissScape, focuses on solving rooftop irrigation issues caused by the low water pressure common at the top of older tall buildings or the excessive water pressure of newer buildings.