Balloon framing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balloon framing is a 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 (
studs
)that run from
sill
to
eave line
with intermediate floor structures nailed to them. Once popular when long
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...
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