A widow s walk also known as a widow s watch or roofwalk is a railed rooftop platform often with a small enclosed cupola frequently found on 19th century north american coastal houses.
													
																	Roof lanfing widows walk. 
									
		
	
	
		
	
	
		
	
	
		
	
																	A widow s walk roof walk or sometimes referred to as a captain s walk was typically found on a coastal house originally designed as a lookout for observing vessels at sea. 
																	Copper can be expensive though so often a more modern choice is to opt for epdm rubber roofing a popular option for homes with flat roofs. 
																	Enough of the romance. 
																	A widow s walk roof walk or sometimes referred to as a captain s walk was typically found on a coastal house originally designed as a lookout for observing vessels at sea. 
															
													
									
		
	
	
		
	
	
		
	
	
		
	
																	A widow s walk flat roof deck or observation platform on the roof of a house enclosed by a railing or balustrade is sometimes formed by truncating the top of a hip roof. 
																	The quintessential new england widow s walk was a small platform on the roof with a short picturesque railing around it. 
																	Classically widow s walks or porticos as they re also known have been roofed with a protective copper pan outfitted with a drainage system to keep water from pooling on the surface.