The Queens stoop has quite a different character than its Manhattan & Brooklyn counterparts. Given the extreme rarity of brownstones and elegant townhouses in the borough they can be seen as quite vulgar in comparison. Yet for all their vulgarity, they express–and resolve–the eclectic, “cohabitational” nature of the Queens house. There are as many configurations as there are materials. Iron rails and breeze-block balustrades are quite common, as are the bull-nosed, aluminum and acrylic awnings that cover the top landing. And one can often find some corrugated roofing “thrown in” to provide some extra privacy and hide the knick-knacks (below, in green polycarbonate). Balconies and porches are also popular features that in many cases span the full width of the house.