198 BALLOON FRAMES. 



of any length, stand it on the corner, set it plumb, and with a couple of stay 

 lath? secure it in position. Nail the stud hy (our lars^e nails driven diagonal- 

 ly, two on each side, througli bottom of stud into the sill. Continue to set 

 up studs on end, 16 inches between centers, around the entire building, and 

 secure each in the same manner. Pay no attention to the length, lor Itiey can 

 be readily spliced or cut oif when the time comes. Leave the necessary open- 

 ings for doors and windows. Some prefer to put 4 by 4 studs alongside tiie 

 window frames and for door posts, and also at the corners, but they are not 

 necessary, unless the building be a lar^e one. The best plan for corners, and 

 one usually adopted, is to place two 2 by 4 studs close together, so they form 

 a right angle, that is, the edjre of one stud phiced against the side of the other, 

 60 as to form a corner. Next put in the floor joiatt* for the first floor, the ends 

 of the joists to come out flush with the outside face of the studdinoj ; nail the 

 joists, which are 2 hy II, one to each stud at both ends and diagonally through 

 the edge to the sill on which they rest. Nest measure the height to coiling, 

 and with a chalk line mark it around the entire range of studding ; below the 

 ceiling line notch each stud one inch deep and four inches wide, and into this, 

 flush with the inside face of the studding, nail an incli strip four inches wide. 

 This notch may be cut before putting up the studs. If the frame be lined on 

 the inside, it will not be necessary to notch the strip into the studs, but sim- 

 ply to nail it to the studding ; the obj.-ct of notching tlie studding is to present 

 a flusii surface for lathing, as well as to form a shoulder or bearing necessary 

 to sustain the second floor ; both of tliese are accomplished by lining inside 

 the studding — (for small barns and outbuildings that do not require plaster- 

 ing, nail the strip 4 by 1, to the studding) — on this rests the joists of the 

 second floor, the ends of which come flush to the outside face of ttie studding, 

 and both ends of each joist is securely nailed to each stud ; the bearing of the 

 joist on the inch strip below it is close by the stud, and the inch strip rests on 

 a shoulder or lower side of the notch cut to receive it. This bearing is so 

 strong that the joists will break in the center before the bearing gives way. 

 No tenoned joist in the old style of frame ivill hold half the weight. 



The joists being nailed securely to the side of each stud, the lateral thrust 

 caused by heavy weight, as iiay, merchandise, &c., is in the direction of the 

 fibre of the wood. 



The tensile strength of American White Pine is sufficient to sustain 11,800 

 pounds for each surface inch in its cross section. Medium bar iron will sus- 

 tain 60,000 Ihs. per square inch of its cross section surface, so that white pine 

 pulled or strained in ttie direction of its fibre is equal to nearly one-fifth of the 

 strength of iron. If, in erecting a building, we can so use our materials that 

 every strain will come in the direction of the fibre of some portion of the wood 

 work, we can make inch boards answer a better purpose than foot square 

 beams, and this application of materials is the reason of the strength of balloon 

 frames. 



When the building is designed for storage, it is customary to set an outside 

 strip into the studding at tiie ends of the building on which to nail the ends 

 of the flooiing, so that the thrust of the building endways is in the direction 

 of the fibre of the flooring, and sideways, as before stated, in the direction of 

 the fitire of the joists. 



We have now reached the second floor. A third floor, if required, is put in 

 in the same manner. Having reached the top of the building, each stud is 

 sawed off to an equal height ; if any are too short they are spliced by placing 

 one on top of the other, and nailing a strip of inch board on both sides. The 

 wall plate, 1 by 4 inches, is laid flat on top the studding, and nailed to each 

 stud ; the rafters are then put on ; they are notched, allowing the ends to pro- 

 ject outside for cornice, &c. The bearing of each rafter comes directly over 

 the top of each stud, and is nailed to it. Put in the partitions, and the bal- 

 loon frame is complete, and in labor, strength and economy stands unequalled. 

 If lined inside of the studding with common lumber, and clapboarded outside, 



