Why is balloon framing no longer used

Very informative blog! Thank You. Sorry, left out the link to the article that tells why you do not want to use insulation, especially blown-in, in the old houses with plaster-over-lath walls, probably typical with balloon framing:. This article says you do not want to insulate the old plaster-over-lath walls, typical with balloon framing. My ballon framing, a one story house in coastal Texas, is open to the ground under the house. The wall studs extend beyond the floor joist to a mud sill.

I was told this type of framing was used to allow air flow in the exterior wood clapboard — stud — interior wood shiplap walls. Does this make since? Can wood to stud to wood walls be insulated? Just curious if the advent of the FHA during the mid s is responsible for the shift from ballon framing to platform framing.? I know that FHA standards were an impetus for heavy electrical wiring becoming standard practice in home building.

Couple of things that may have already been mentioned but come to mind. Where I live balloon construction and knob and tube wiring go hand in hand. Often times the cost of a full rewire has people leave knob and tube in 90 percent of their home and eliminate only per insurance company guidelines which is basement and attic. The electrical cost is substantial as is repair of the walls and ceilings that get Swiss cheese to allow for new wiring.

These costs are half as much with balloon framing. I am absolutely worthless when it comes to anything outside of electrical work and for this reason I can not comment. When it comes to a whole home rewire I can assure you that every electrical contractor prays for balloon framing. We have a balloon framed home with a bad squirrel problem too.

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Related Stories Small fire breaks out at house on Ostrom Avenue. These materials were used to build lightweight buildings with nailed frames made of dimensional lumber.

It was said to have been called balloon construction because the buildings were so light they looked like they would float away. Post and beam, which is now used predominantly in barn construction. Balloon framing using a technique suspending floors from the walls was common until the late s, but since that time, platform framing has become the predominant form of house construction. The main advantage balloon framing has over platform framing is the increased wind load strength. The roof structure tied to the sole plate by the continuous studs make balloon framing very popular in hurricane-prone areas.

Balloon frame structures also have less settling than platform framing as a result of shrinkage. Some also assumed this type of framing could only be used in utilitarian, box-like buildings. As a homeowner you might be wondering how to tell if your house is balloon frame construction? The most common characteristics of balloon frame constructed houses are that the windows are stacked.

Meaning that the windows on the second floor are directly above those on the first floor. The central difference between balloon and platform framing is that the studs in a balloon frame extend from the foundation to the rafters, whereas in a platform frame, the studs are independent on each storey.

Platform framing enabled a fire break to be included between each floor. Freed from the heavy timbers of the post-and-beam system, platform framing offers ease of construction. A girder is a heavy beam, usually made of wood, that supports the inner ends of the floor joists. In conventional residential construction, joists are nominal 2-inch-thick pieces of lumber placed on their edge and usually spaced 16 inches on center.

To frame out an opening, you first put the trimmer joists in place. A bearing surface of this size will avoid crushing the wood fibers. On any wall panel or framing piece, the beams that run horizontal at the very top and bottom of the frame are called plates. Studs are attached to plates, and studs and plates combined form a wall panel. Built-up girders should be placed so their outside joints fall over the posts fig.

In platform framing, one end of the floor joist rests directly on the sill plate of the exterior foundation wall or on the top plate of a framed outside wall. When securing 2 or more dimensional wood boards together to form a beam you will need to use the proper number and size nails to create a solid member. However, because of the minimal amount of vertical shrinkage with balloon framing you might use this method in cases where you are worried about cracking in finishes like stucco for example.

Overall, I think in most cases platform framing is likely to be more desirable than balloon framing. Ching are two sources that I found helpful for this topic and are great places to look for more information. Also, trying to tag Coach Liz Schneider but unable to do so in the tag section!

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