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2010 — Becoming a Maison

Framing the porch and upstairs, one step at a time

In 2010 Leo and Dianne set out to remodel the house into a true “le maison” — Cajun for house — making many trips to the Acadian Village in Lafayette, Louisiana to gather ideas for an authentic Acadian home.

Before any lumber was cut, Leo built the addition in SketchUp — modeling the existing house, then adding the new porch and upstairs piece by piece to be sure every rafter, column, and wall would land where it should.

This walkthrough follows that model from the house as it stood to the new space the framing created. Click any image to see it larger.

The House, and Its New Front

01

College Drive View

The original house as it stood on College Drive — the face it showed for most of its life.
02

Myrtle Street View

The Myrtle Street side. This quieter elevation would become the home’s new front.
03

The New Porch

The new porch, framed and decked in fresh wood — waiting for the roof the model was built to plan.

Framing the Addition in SketchUp

04

The Current Frame

The starting point, modeled in SketchUp: the existing hip-roof frame, before a single new board was added.
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Step 1 · Extend the Rafters

The existing rafters are extended outward to reach over the new porch.
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Step 2 · Add Columns & Header

Columns and a header drop in beneath the extended rafters to carry the new load.
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Step 3 · Add Porch Ceiling Joists

Ceiling joists span the porch, tying the columns back to the house.
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Step 4 · Add the Front Upstairs Wall

The front wall of the new upstairs is framed, shaping the second-floor space.
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Step 5 · Add the Front Roof Rafters

Front roof rafters rise to close in the new upstairs room.
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Step 6 · Add the Inside Center Wall

An interior center wall goes in to divide and support the new rooms.

Old and New

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Compare Old & New

The finished house set against the frame it grew from — old lines and new, side by side.
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The New Space

The completed model: the upstairs living space the framing made possible.
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From a modest cottage to an authentic Acadian maison.

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