Balloon framing

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Balloon framing is method of wood construction used primarily in Scandinavia, Canada and the United States. In the U.S., this method was introduced by Augustine Taylor (1796-1891) in Chicago. It utilizes long continuous framing members that run from sill to eave line with intermediate floor structures nailed to them. Once popular when lumber was plentiful, balloon framing has been largely replaced by platform framing.

The curious name of this framing technique was originally a derisive one. As Taylor was constructing his first such building, St. Mary's Church, in 1833, skilled carpenters looked on at the comparatively thin framing members, all held together with nails, and declared this method of construction to be no more substantial than a balloon. It would surely blow over in the next wind! Though the criticism proved baseless, the name stuck.

Although lumber was plentiful in 19th century America, skilled labor was not. The advent of cheap machine-made nails, along with water-powered sawmills, in the early 19th century made balloon framing highly attractive, because it did not require highly-skilled carpenters, as did the dovetail joints, mortises, and tenons required by post-and-beam framing. For the first time, any farmer could build his own buildings without a time-consuming learning curve.

It has been said that balloon framing populated the western United States and the western provinces of Canada. Without it, western boomtowns certainly could not have blossomed overnight. It is also a fair certainty that, by radically reducing construction costs, balloon framing improved the shelter options of poorer North Americans.

The main difference between platform and balloon framing is at the floor lines. The balloon wall studs extend from the sill of the first story all the way to the top plate or end rafter of the second story. The platform-framed wall, on the other hand, is independent for each floor.

Balloon framing has three disadvantages as a construction method. The first is the creation of a path for fire to readily travel from floor to floor. This is mitigated with the use of firestops at each floor level. The second is the lack of a working platform for work on upper floors. Whereas workers can readily reach the top of the walls being erected with platform framing, balloon construction requires scaffolding to reach the tops of the walls (which are often two or three stories above the working platform). The requirement for long framing members is the third disadvantage.

Balloon framing has been outlawed by building codes in many areas because of the fire danger that it poses, although some electricians like working in balloon frame buildings, because the lack of fire blocking makes it much easier to add circuits.

Balloon framing does not readily or simply lend itself to the additional span of patio or French doors ( usually 60"+ ). Today's framing procedures as well as ...usually 24" centres in older homes will mean shoring, care and thought should be taken prior to removing ANY of the original framing. Proper upper and lower framing/support is a must for the new header. Not a week-end do-it-yourselfer type project.

Balloon framing is growing in popularity in light gauge steel stud construction. For light gauge steel, long framing members are not as much of an issue. Balloon framing provides a more direct load path down to the foundation.