BALLOON FRAMES. 



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Fig. 4— Side Elevation— G. Manner of splicing 



sills— F. Manner of siJlicing studs. Fig. 5— End Elevation. 



at the same time. Each 2 by 4 stud, when braced by the siding, will be capa- 

 ble of practically sustaining 12 tons. The strip on which the joists rest will 

 sustain nearly three tons by each stud, so that supposing the floor joists to bo 

 equal in strength with the bearings, the floor of a balloon frame building 16 

 by 24, with 2 by 4 studs, will practically sustain an equally distributed weight 

 of 100 tons, weight of floor included. 



The floor joists in a balloon frame may be as heavy as desirable, equal witfi 

 those used in the old fashioned frame, but they are not injured in strength by 

 cutting tenons. 



Some builders of balloon frames notch the under side of the joists, and lock 

 them over the strips. There is no advantage in this, as an extra spike will 

 answer the same purpose, save the work, and preserve the full -strength of the 

 timber — 4 by 4 studs will be found best adapted to the corners. The manner 

 of splicing studding is shown in fig. 4. 



A building designed for storage should be lined diagonally, to prevent a 

 possibility of being thrown out of a perpendicular. ' 



Barns require no lining, except as rendering more comfortable the portiona 

 used fur horses and cattle — a single strip 4 or inches wide might be nailed 

 to the studding diagonally. Dwelling houses do not require any such strength- 

 ening, though diagonal strips add very much to the stifl'ness of the frame. 



The balloon frame is simple in its construction, and from practical experi- 

 ence I give the preference to that form of it which is entirely free from 

 mortices and tenons — that which costs the least labor is the strongest. 



Those who adopt the balloon frame for every class of farm building, for 

 wooden houses of every class, will do a sensible thing. For barns of all sizes, 

 tenant houses, lodges, cottages, granaries, corn-cribs, residences, &c., it is the 

 best style of frame known, and the only one used in the great grain growing 

 and stock raising portion of our country west of the great lakes. 



The Balloon Frame is one of those innovations, which, like the sewing ma- 

 chine, the husking machine, and the apple- parer, is destined to put an end to 

 those social gatherings, which, in by-gone days, assembled to accomplish by 

 united efforts that which by the advent of machinery is now performed with 

 far greater ease and rapidity. 



