Roof terrace planning - What costs arise?

Hello everyone,

we are just starting to think about a roof terrace. The following facts apply:

- Single-family house, roof terrace already exists and was built on top of the carport, living room, and a room for garden tools (solid construction)
- Roof is a flat roof sealed with bitumen sheets
- There is no building permit for the roof terrace, so one would have to be obtained beforehand

We have now spoken with an architect who offered us the following:

1) Inspection, review, on-site visit
2) Evaluation and update
3) Preparation of draft planning
4) Approval planning including deviations

Total 4300€

Photos of the terrace as well as the drawings are attached. The terrace photo is not optimal; I will upload something else.

We would like to have the terrace resealed and the slope adjusted (currently there are rain puddles forming) – i.e. all necessary ground work, then terrace slabs should be laid. A railing is needed as well as a small sun terrace at the doors leading to the terrace. What is also needed is a lighting concept.

Now my questions:

1) Would you get several offers from architects?
2) How would you assess the offer?
3) Should separate offers be obtained or everything done at once?
4) What costs can be expected for such a project?

I am currently still quite "lost" on the topic and do not know exactly what is right :). In addition, there are still some questions we have to clarify ourselves (usage concept, lighting concept, etc.).

I would be missing the plot itself including the adjacent plots as a drawing.

Could it be that the building with the flat roof is a garage on the boundary?

Then a terrace on it would trigger boundary distances and make implementation (almost) impossible.

Please provide the corresponding drawings, then you can certainly expect better information ;)

Hi everyone,

sorry! Yes, correct.

To the right is a nursery, that would be no problem. To the left we have neighbors, we need to clarify this with them, otherwise the border would have to be moved further "inward" to maintain the distance. Signatures definitely need to be obtained, but as I said (in my opinion) it is nothing impossible.

I am currently quite "lost" on the subject and don't know exactly what is right

Basically, I always advise against a roof terrace in a single-family house. What would you use it for if there is already a garden? During the day until evening, people usually stay in the living room and do not go upstairs to then use the roof terrace.

... To the right is a nursery, that would not be a problem. To the left we have neighbors, we need to clarify this with them, otherwise a border would have to be moved further "inwards" to maintain the distance. Signatures definitely need to be obtained, but as I said (in my opinion) nothing impossible.

phew, the drawing is "stressful". And why do you think it is not a problem? Setback areas are not only triggered by "private" neighbors! They require (to my knowledge) entries in the land register, a nursery does not simply agree to that! So before I would commission an architect there, first post complete proper information here. And then the matter is already settled anyway if I was able to interpret the drawing correctly. Trying to "squeeze" information out of someone is unproductive and no fun :oops:

Yes, I know exactly what you mean, so we still need a realistic usage concept, the roof terrace adjoins the two children's rooms, this would be a possible usage scenario in the future. Of course, also the all-day sun. However, the roof terrace currently just doesn't look good at all, puddles form and the bitumen sheets sizzle in the sun and it smells slightly chemical.


1) We have a very good relationship with the nursery, so I assume this is not a problem
2) So before I would hire an architect, first post complete and proper information here - where do I get this information? Appointment at the building authority?
3) As I said, I am very much at the beginning here, it's not that I am lazy but I simply need help on how to "start" the topic, then I will get going (I just don't want to go in the wrong direction...)
4) If experienced builders could give me 1-2 tips on the first steps, it would really help me a lot

Attached is (in my opinion) a better drawing of the site plan.

Thank you and best regards