Exterior framing creates a welcoming entry & back deck.

Plans to remodel this Conway neighborhood home in St. Paul included significant upgrades to the exterior, including a new front porch addition and back deck. That meant we needed to pour concrete pier footings at 12″x 42″ and then begin framing to create both new structures.

• Front Porch: We used post & beam construction and added engineered scissor trusses to tie the porch roof into that of the existing home.  Framing for the walls and roofing were sheathed to prepare for siding and shingle installation later.
• Back Deck: With footings in place, we framed the deck with 2×10 floor joists at 12″ O.C. (on center).

Adding a front entry will give depth to the home’s front elevation (wall or facade) of the home, adding a welcoming spot that shields the family from rain or snow. The back deck will provide another place for the homeowners to enjoy their property without being dependent on interior spaces.

New Windows, Doors, and the Framing that Supports Them

One way our clients chose to invest in their home was to get new windows and doors, which would be much more efficient than the older units. Here, when we talk about efficiency, we’re thinking about the energy exchange, heat gain or loss, from an interior space to the outside. To simplify, new units will allow for less of this exchange at windows and doors, keeping our clients’ home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Having efficient windows and doors is a helpful way to control spending on active heating and cooling systems.

During demolition, the crew removed specified windows, doors, and exterior walls in order to provide newly framed openings for new units to be installed. Framing along exterior walls was more about stabilizing new openings for the upgraded units, providing headers and other structural members to shift the load of the building from openings all the way to the foundation below.

Not Your Average Open-Concept Home

Unlike other projects with open-concept plans, this St. Paul remodel focused on maintaining original room sizes. Beyond new windows, doors, and other exterior changes, framing for the home’s interior was about finding subtle ways to improve the home, like adding a fireplace, changing the location of plumbing and HVAC, or enlarging tighter room openings.