Balloon Wall Framing - A Look Back at an Outdated Construction Method
Balloon wall framing is a historic technique for constructing walls in buildings. Unlike the platform framing method most common today, balloon framing utilizes continuous, full-height studs that span from the foundation all the way up to the roof.
These long studs are referred to as "balloon studs" because, according to the video, the term might have originated from the notion that the entire structure, due to its reliance on these long vertical supports, resembled a balloon ready to float away.
Greg mentions that the builder encountered balloon framing only once in their career, during a commercial building project in the early 1980s. They note that this method seems to have fallen out of favor for several reasons.
Key Components of Balloon Wall Framing
Full-Height Studs: As mentioned before, balloon framing relies on long, uninterrupted studs that run the entire height of the wall, from the foundation to the roof.
Ribbons: A ribbon is a horizontal piece of lumber, typically a 1x4 or 1x6 board, notched into the studs to provide a ledge for the floor joists to rest on.
Joist Nailing: The joists, which are the horizontal beams that support the floor, are nailed directly into framing stud and sit on the ribbons.
Fire Blocks - which are small pieces of lumber installed between studs to impede the spread of fire within the wall cavity, were often omitted in balloon-framed buildings. This is a major safety concern as it creates a direct path for fire to travel through the walls.
Advantages:
Simpler Construction: In theory, balloon framing could be a faster method to construct walls because it requires less cutting of lumber compared to platform framing.
Having fewer studs to handle might also seem like an advantage.
Disadvantages:
Laborious Layout: The importance of careful layout beforehand to avoid encountering doubled studs (where two studs are placed side-by-side unintentionally) because balloon framing doesn't accommodate these easily. Special techniques would be required to incorporate double studs into balloon framing.
Structural Concerns: The long studs could potentially bow or bend more readily than the shorter studs used in platform framing. Additionally, the fire safety risks due to the omission of fire blocking are significant.
Not Up To Code: Modern building codes most likely prohibit the use of balloon framing due to its structural and fire safety shortcomings.
The Shift to Platform Framing
Shorter Studs: Platform framing utilizes shorter studs that run from the floor plate to the ceiling plate of each floor.
Safer Construction: Platform framing incorporates fire blocking between the studs, significantly improving fire safety.
Accommodates Double Studs: Platform framing can easily accommodate double studs for additional support where needed.
The video concludes that while balloon framing might seem like a simpler method on the surface, the potential for structural issues and the lack of fire safety measures make platform framing the superior and safer choice for modern construction.
