Anonymous wrote:OP here. The places we are looking at that are within our budget have either one of these but not both. We really love the privacy and the view from the rooftop (it’s nothing iconic but still very nice) but we do have kids and a small dog so I am trying to weigh in the practicality of it.

The rooftop is above the bedroom level not on the same level and it’s quite large: about 23’ x 30’ while the backyard patio is a bit smaller and part of it is underneath the medium-sized deck on the second floor. (The place with rooftop also have a deck on the second floor too)

We also have a patio underneath a 2nd floor deck. The shade is really nice! I sit out on the patio to telework quite a bit. We also have a 6’ fence around our small backyard - and have put some thought and effort into landscaping the small area that we do have - so it really feels like a ‘secret garden.’ However, we’re further out in the burbs so haven’t really dealt with rats. Rats might be enough to move me up to the roof.

Shade is pretty crucial though too. I’ve had a couple of houses with 2nd floor decks that were pretty much unusable most of the day due to the heat and glare. Also, if you’re thinking of growing plants up on the rooftop make sure that you have a water source nearby. Potted plants will dry out VERY quickly during a hot summer day. (Even plants in a large pot with a built-in reservoir.)

In your 20s or 30s, no pets no kids I think rooftop. In your 40s with small dependents— patio. Although it depends a fair on specifics.

Anonymous wrote:Rooftop. I thought for certain that would be the overwhelming response. Rooftops are sexy. Backyards are so 1980's.

Ugh. It looks great on a website photo, but the reality? No thanks. We've done both. Being able to shuttle in and out of my kitchen/living room to the patio is way better than walking up 3 flights of stairs to sit outside. And with most patios, you can carve out at least a small amount of dirt - space for planting flowers, or letting the dog do his business in a pinch.

Backyard. You can always add a rooftop deck in a few years, but you can't add a backyard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Backyard, before COVID I would have said rooftop

Hmm.. I would think the opposite as rooftop usually have more privacy and allow you to be away from people walking by

I don’t care about privacy and views, I’d prefer a card for workouts, having friends over and playing with the pup.

Anonymous wrote:Rooftop.

In DC, you’ll be eaten by mosquitoes or rats in your backyard rendering it largely unusable.

We have a decent-sized backyard. No rats. Mosquitos can be controlled with candles and zappers.

Rooftop.

In DC, you’ll be eaten by mosquitoes or rats in your backyard rendering it largely unusable.