A Custom Duplex Addition Designed for Indoor & Outdoor Living
PWD Home is currently underway on a duplex project at Preston Lake Homes, where both homeowners wanted to expand their outdoor living space without sacrificing comfort or usability. Each side of the duplex began with smaller existing deck structures, and the homeowners came to us looking to transform those areas into more functional everyday extensions of their homes that better support comfort, usability, and time spent outdoors.
Our team designed an addition that brings together an enclosed porch with open decks on either side, creating a mix of indoor and outdoor living areas that connect directly to each backyard. While the overall footprint ties the two units together, every detail has been tailored to how each homeowner plans to use their home.
A Central Space Built for Comfort and Flexibility
At the center of the design is a new enclosed porch that connects both sides of the addition. We’re building this space to function as a protected outdoor room, while still maintaining easy access to the surrounding deck areas.
One of the key features of this section are direct-set windows along the lower portion of the enclosure. These help maintain proper guardrail heights while keeping the space open and visually connected. Above the window portion, we’re installing a screen system that allows airflow while still providing comfort and usability through different seasons.
Access points from the interior will allow the space to function either fully open to the deck or closed off as a more sheltered sitting area, depending on the weather and how the homeowners want to use the space.
A Seamless Connection
Because this is a duplex, the framing required careful coordination where the addition meets the shared wall between the two units. Our team worked to ensure the new structure ties in cleanly with the existing home so the addition feels seamless while still respecting the separation between each living space.
This coordination continues up through the roofline, where the new structure and existing framing come together to create a cohesive build from front to back. These steps ensure the addition functions as one unified extension of the homes while maintaining the necessary separation between each unit.
Framing the New Structure
Because this is a duplex, the center of the addition required careful coordination with the existing shared wall between the two units. Our team worked with engineers to ensure the new structure ties into the existing firewall properly, maintaining full separation between both homes while allowing the addition to function as one cohesive build. That shared wall continues through the full height of the new structure, extending up to the roofline, and where the addition meets the existing home, we carefully integrated the roof framing so everything connects cleanly from front to back.
Once the walls are set, we'll install trusses spanning the enclosed section and tie the roof structure back into the existing home. After the central space is dried in, we'll shift to the two exterior decks extending out from either side of the enclosed porch — open outdoor spaces that will feel connected to the overall addition while giving each homeowner room to enjoy the outdoors.
Laying the Groundwork
At ground level, we installed a new retaining wall on one side of the duplex to address the differences in elevation between the two units. This helped create a more usable lower area while also improving drainage away from the structure.
We also poured a stamped concrete pad that will serve as the foundation for future deck supports and posts. Our team took extra care during this process to protect the finished surface, since it will remain a visible and functional part of the lower outdoor space.
We also poured a stamped concrete pad that will serve as the foundation for future deck supports and posts. Our team took extra care during this process to protect the finished surface, since it will remain a visible and functional part of the lower outdoor space.
A Custom Approach for Each Homeowner
One of the unique aspects of this project is that each side of the duplex is being customized rather than duplicated. While the overall structure ties the two units together visually, the framing details, stair layouts, and deck configurations are tailored to each homeowner’s needs and how they plan to use their space.
Coordinating both sides at the same time has made for an interesting build process, but it also ensures each homeowner will end up with a space that truly fits their day-to-day lifestyle, whether that’s quiet mornings outside, entertaining, or simply having a more functional connection to the backyard.
As the project continues to take shape, the focus remains on creating a well-built outdoor addition that feels natural to the homes and enhances how the homeowners live and spend time outside once it’s complete.
If you’re thinking about expanding your own outdoor living space, contact us today to start the conversation.
