1. Until recently, many real estate deals have been destroyed before they
could grow, because the prospective occupants needed more storage space
than the available structure allowed. Either the square footage was deemed
insufficient, or the height did not allow enough clearance to accommodate
modern equipment or storage density requirements. But a unique
procedure that lifts an original roof intact, (“E-Z Riser” provided by Space
Technology, Inc.) is causing brokers to list properties as “Height
Expandable” and is creating mutually beneficial deals for building owners,
buyers, tenants, and developers.
BROKERS BENEFIT
In one typical example, a 95,000 square foot building, in a prime location,
remained vacant for years due to its obsolete low roof height. A broker showed
the un-saleable property to a prospective buyer, but mentioned the process that
could inexpensively raise the existing roof, in ONE INTACT operation. The
16 foot height was then increased to 29 feet; the buyer gained his needed
storage capacity; and the sale was successfully completed.
LANDLORDS GAIN
In another case, the owners of a 44,000 square foot facility offered their
building for lease to Nikon Corp. The space was initially thought to be too
small for their requirements. But they soon found that the most practical
method for making the structure larger was by far the simplest and least
expensive. They contacted Space Technology, Inc. (STI) to lift the
EXISTING roof INTACT, creating almost twice the interior cubic volume
of space. STI provides this patented roof-lifting process nationwide, and
completed this project within just a few months.
INVESTORS PROFIT
In another building, during the impressive lifting of its 368,000 square
foot roof, an investor arranged to hold a publicity reception beneath the
roof-lift-in-progress with food, drink, and musical accompaniment. Not a
single one of the 4,500 panes of perimeter glass was disturbed during the
increase of 11.5 additional feet of height (over 4 million cubic feet of
space was added). The press event, and the space created by the roof lift,
enabled the investor to immediately re-sell the previously unusable
property, and reap a tremendous profit.
BUYERS ARE REWARDED
A 330,000 square foot building was sold by a broker only because he
alerted the buyer to the process for lifting the 18 foot high roof to 32 feet
high. This unique procedure enabled the new owner to buy the previously
obsolete manufacturing facility at an attractive price, and transform it into
a modern high-ceiling warehouse, increasing productivity by allowing
installation of high-lift material handling equipment. Material Handling
systems dealers have found roof-lifting to be a critical solution for
maximizing the productivity of the equipment they sell.
DEVELOPERS ATTRACT TENANTS
STI also lifted and enclosed a 154,000 square foot roof section of a
building that had been available for sale for many years. A developer (a
prominent R.E.I.T.) bought the property for the specific purpose of
improving it “on speculation” with a roof lift from 14’ up to 25’ clear. The
facility’s usefulness and appearance were consequently upgraded, and the
transformed site was promptly leased. Economic Development agencies
have found this method to be valuable in attracting businesses to relocate
or expand within their localities.
TENANTS WIN, TOO
In some cases, it has actually proven lucrative for tenants to pay to
improve their landlord’s buildings! In one such instance, STI lifted and
enclosed a 58,000 square foot roof section of a vacant building, from 17’
up to 24’ clear. This “win-win” arrangement allowed a liquor distributor to
lease the enlarged office/warehouse facility at its original “low-roof”
price; while the owner benefited by having its building occupied, while its
value and future marketability were greatly improved. The tenant found
that paying for lifting the roof of this leased building was easily cost-
justified over its period of use.
EVEN OFFICES GROW
Some warehouse users find that even their
office space benefits from creating new
height. STI lifted and enclosed a 20,000
square foot vacant structure, from 12’ up
to 21’ clear. An automotive parts
distributor purchased this low-clearance
building at an attractive price, lifted its
roof to a more useful storage height, and
used it to relocate its headquarters. The
entire roof was lifted, with most of the
space used for warehouse storage.
However, a mezzanine was also installed
above the original office, to allow for an
additional level of upper office space.
NEW BUSINESSES FLOURISH
A formerly “useless” building was transformed by STI’s roof-lifting
procedure, where a 42,000 square foot roof was lifted from 13’9” to 24’6”
clear. Once this facility was expanded in its prime location, it enabled the new
owner to start up a successful self-storage business venture. Similar examples
abound, all made possible by the technology that enables “obsolete” sites to
become valuable assets by increasing their cubic capacity.
Space Technology, Inc. www.ROOFLIFT.com
Rooflifts
are
creating
real estate
deals
ROOF-LIFTING PROCESS
SPURSREALESTATESALES
Available Buildings Transformed into
Attractive Warehouses by Inexpensive Method
for Increasing Height of the Original Roof
Original Clear Height 14 Feet
Roof Raised To New Clear Height of 35 Feet

2. RETAILERS REJOICE
National retail chains choose their locations carefully, based upon
demographics. But finding available structures with the height required for
their standardized layouts and fixtures, has proven frustrating. Rather than
demolish and rebuild these unsuitable sites, they turn to STI for the
structural “makeover” that enables them to inexpensively transform them
to meet their height requirements. Companies that have benefited have
included Best Buy, Linens ’n’ Things, Petsmart, Office Max, Circuit City,
Vornado, Mandee Stores, and many more.
CONTRACTORS PREVAIL
When the Office Max retail chain found a suitable existing shopping-
center location, they selected a site previously occupied by Filene’s. This
11’ high structure was 4’ short of the standardized-height requirement for
the new tenant. After inviting several “conventional” demolition-and-re-
construction bids, the successful bidder was a General Contractor that had
an “unfair” advantage: They capitalized on the dramatic savings in cost
and time gained by utilizing STI’s roof-lifting process. Architects have
also found roof-lifting to be a valuable tool for presenting creative
renovation projects to potential clients.
OLD CHOICES
Traditional expansion options to accommodate a prospective buyer’s or
tenant’s space requirements have, in the past, proven to be too costly. The
choices were either to build adjoining floor space, or to construct
additional height by building a duplicated roof structure above the old.
Each of these options had its drawbacks and limitations:
• Local regulations often prevented additional construction on the
original site due to zoning, parking, or space restrictions.
• Where allowed, construction of a building addition involved
disruption, loss of parking, messy conditions, high costs for
excavation and construction, and increased taxes due to increased
square footage.
• Creating more floor space required a new foundation and structure,
various permits, lengthy and expensive planning and construction
phases, and environmental concerns.
• Constructing a new roof above the old, involved costly duplication of
steel supports, roofing materials, lighting, sprinkler, and heating
systems, disturbed roof-mounted equipment, and messy demolition
and disposal of the old roof level.
While these primitive alternatives had been deployed where required, the
prices of land, buildings, and construction have rendered them prohibitive.
Yet the prospect of surrendering potential real estate transactions due to
space restrictions is equally unacceptable.
NEW SOLUTION
For these reasons, an approach developed in the early 1970’s is now being
utilized in many cases where more space is needed quickly, inexpensively,
and conveniently. The key to the innovative method is the “E-Z Riser”
process of enveloping the support columns
with steel “sleeves”, cutting columns at
their bases, disconnecting the original roof
at its perimeter, and hydraulically lifting
the “telescoping” columns to double or
triple the original height. The newly
created height is then enclosed, with a
variety of choices available for insulated
siding, matching masonry, etc.
The advance preparation for the day of
lifting the roof (accomplished at the rate of
one foot of height per hour) is relatively
straight-forward. It involves disconnecting
any vertical utility lines, piping, or
obstructions that connect the walls to the
roof. In many cases, such as electrical
wiring, extension lengths are spliced into
the original line during the initial
disconnection, so that power is maintained continuously. It can then be left
intact during the lift, with the “slack” wire absorbed as the lift progresses.
In this way, overhead lighting fixtures and electric heating can function
even while the lift is taking place. The newly added wiring is then
fastened permanently after the lift is completed. The original roof,
lighting, heating, plumbing, drainage, sprinkler, and roof-mounted
equipment, are all maintained intact. So the entire project can be
completed even if the building must be occupied immediately.
RESULTS
Prospective tenants and owners find that roof lifting enables them to
transform low-clearance buildings into taller structures, offering new
opportunities.
• Install high-bay storage and retrieval systems.
• Add mezzanines or second floors, for offices, storage, or production.
• Accommodate cranes, tanks, or sophisticated equipment.
• Convert a building-for-sale with ‘too little square footage” into a
valuable asset, with more useable space, and future marketability.
While the process seems revolutionary, it
utilizes proven and established
technologies, and has a long-standing
record of performance, safety, and
reliability since 1972. All work is
certified and supervised by qualified
engineers, and meets all building code
and construction requirements.
EXAMPLES
According to the informative website,
www.ROOFLIFT.com, roof lifting
projects have been provided nationwide
by STI at sites ranging in size from as
small as 6,000, to those with many
hundreds of thousands of square feet. The economies achieved on larger
structures are astonishing, and Space Technology provides initial cost
estimates at no charge. After viewing the website’s eye-opening video,
and impressive press coverage, it is apparent that this revolutionary
technology has had a major impact on existing real estate.
STI conducts its roof lifting service regardless of weather conditions, or
the need for early occupancy. A 170,000 square foot lift from 14’ up to
25’ clear was accomplished smoothly, for an international manufacturer
and distributor of paper products. Despite mid-winter storms, the project
allowed complete occupancy and warehousing operations to continue,
thanks to having the wall enclosure cleverly installed BEFORE the lift.
The new upper walls, attached to the roof and surrounding the building,
actually rose with the roof as it was lifted, to avoid weather exposure.
Installation of pallet rack, mezzanines, flow rack, and conveyor systems,
then made productive use of the new space.
IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES
• Existing roof structure, framework, and roofing are utilized; reduces
new material costs.
• No additional land is needed; taxes are minimized; parking
requirements are unaffected.
• No ground is broken, eliminating excavation and foundation
expenses, time, and inconvenience.
• Lighting, heating, sprinklers and other systems rise with the roof,
eliminating costly retro-fitting.
• Structural Engineering services are included, assuring that all
building code and permit requirements are met.
• Modern high lifting and stacking equipment has made low-clearance
facilities obsolete; raising the roof height adds value and marketability.
• Process is fast; entire roofs are lifted at an average of 1 foot per
hour, so occupancy is accelerated.
• All related activities are coordinated, allowing building buyers and
sellers to continue to concentrate on their normal daily business.
So it seems that the old saw about real estate may need to be re-
evaluated: While it is still true that “they’re not making it any more,”
there may be more of it to be found under an old roof.
Space Technology, Inc.
www.ROOFLIFT.com
INNOVATIVE
ROOF LIFTING
PROCESS
is opening new
opportunities
for making old
industrial sites
attractive to
today’s market
To assure safety, the
unique method
never separates the
building from its
structural support, so
it avoids any
requirement for
temporary shoring
and its resulting floor
-anchor damage, and
never subjects the
building to
instability.