Hi,
My six and four year old and I were talking about how houses are built (starting from a question about did somebody invent houses or did God make them). I mentioned that part of our house was “platform framed” and part was “baloon framed”. This got us to wondering WHY it’s called “baloon framing”. The four year old suggested that it’s because it’s built from baloons. After I explained that it really meant that the pieces of wood ran from the foundation to the roof rather than stopping at each floor the six year old suggested they must have used baloons to lift the carpenters up that high so they could nail the studs to the roof.
Anybody really know why it’s called “baloon framing”?
dc
Replies
During my first year of apprenticeship I remember the instructor, who was European, say that when the tradesmen came from the "old world" to North America the style of construction changed for them. Due to the rapid growth of towns and cities they went from post and beam and masonry construction to stick framing. Being use to more solid construction they said, "the new framed buildings would blow away like balloons."
That is one explanation, I am sure there are others.
Balloon Framed Houses
• "Originally called “Chicago construction” until the 1870s, the balloon frame was a derisive term for this unusually light form of construction. The structural principle that differentiates the balloon frame from other forms of timber frame construction centers on the way the frame addresses the loads. In a balloon frame, there is an equal distribution of vertical compressive loads over a series of 2x4 or 2x6 inch studs. The studs are spaced approximately sixteen inches on center but often vary between twelve to twenty-four inches. Unlike the self-supporting bay system of the braced frame, the one or two-story continuous stud system of the balloon frame did not utilize the girdling support of connecting horizontal beams (girts) tied into stout corner posts; hence, the frame required lateral support from the wrapping (diaphragm) action of the sheathing to make the frame rigid. Later in the development of the balloon frame the sub-sheathing was nailed diagonally to further counter the racking of the frame."
SamT