Fontan Architecture Blog
Architecture, Planning, & Interior Design Blog
Adding a Roof Deck to a Townhouse in NYC
Can You add a Roof Deck to a Townhouse in NYC? When adding a roof deck to a townhouse in NYC, you will need to hire an architect to assess the existing conditions, obtain approval from the Department of Buildings, and design all necessary alterations to complete the...
Adding a Floor to a Brownstone in NYC
If you own a townhouse in NYC and consider enlarging it with a new addition, you may ask yourself if this is possible. Many factors will affect the feasibility of an addition to an existing townhouse. Can You Add a Floor to a Townhouse in NYC? You can add a...
Renovating a Townhouse in NYC
If you are planning to renovate a townhouse in NYC you probably have a lot of questions. This is normal because renovating a townhouse can be complicated. If you intend to renovate your townhouse in New York City you will need to hire an architect, hire a general...
What is a Lot Line Window?
A lot line window is a window within an exterior wall of a building that is located on a property line, which is shared with another property. Lot line windows have specific code requirements and limitations that other windows do not. I am Jorge Fontan, an...
Do You Need an Architect for a Renovation in NYC
Many people in New York City want to renovate, whether it's doing a full gut renovation or just remodeling your kitchen and bathrooms there are lots of questions you will need answered. One of the first is going to be: Do I need an architect for a renovation in NYC?...
How To Renovate Your Co-Op in NYC
If you own a Co-Op apartment or are planning to purchase one in NYC, you may need to perform some remodeling. So, the question is, can you renovate your Co-Op in NYC, and what steps must you take to do so? You can renovate your Co-Op apartment as long as you abide by...
How to Achieve a Marble Look with Porcelain
Marble can be a very beautiful material but is expensive and has some shortcomings. Marble look porcelain can be one way to achieve a marble look without using marble. Porcelain is a manufactured material that comes in tiles or large format slabs, which can look like...
NYC Apartment Renovation & Walkthrough, UES
A lot of work goes into renovating an apartment in NYC. Along with all this work, many decisions and details to figure out. In this post, we will look at an apartment gut renovation we completed in Manhattan on the Upper East Side. We have a video walk-through for you...
Letter of No Objection NYC DOB
The New York City Department of Buildings or DOB issues Certificates of Occupancy to identify the legal use of a given property. This practice began in 1938, meaning buildings built before 1938 are not necessarily required to have a Certificate of Occupancy. In cases...
What is a Habitable Room?
If you have encountered the term habitable room or space, you may wonder what that means. The term "Habitable Space" is commonly used in Building Codes. Building codes are complicated and have terminology you must understand to correctly assess the regulations'...
