Construction of the Shell 



49 



under each end, nailed to the upright frame stud with the common "jack" 

 or short studs between, will support it. 



Common studs are usually 2x4 and are seldom framed into the larger 

 timbers, although this may be done. If securely nailed they will be found strong 

 enough. If they are to be framed in, the mortise should be but slight, so as not to 

 cut away too much wood from the large timbers. In such cases, too, the made- 

 up sill (see Fig. 3) will be of advantage, as all the mortises can be cut before 

 it is spiked to the 4x8; and as these mortises can be cut through it, the actual 

 labour is less. 



In a large house it may be advisable to make the common studding 2x5. In 

 such a case the*upright sticks should be increased accordingly. 



Studs are commonly set 16 inches on centres. If more rigid work is re- 

 quired, they can be 12 inches on centres. As ordinary laths are 4 feet in length, 

 and as it is desirable to lay them without any more cutting than is absolutely 

 necessary, one or the other of these spacings should be adhered to with accuracy. 



Properly speaking, the balloon frame is one in which the frame alone is not 

 self-supporting, and the studding runs continuously from the sill to the plate. 

 No braces are used except temporary ones; the outside boarding, laid diagonally, 

 is depended upon to hold the frame to- 

 gether and in shape. It is not advis- 

 able, however, to construct a balloon 

 frame without the brace in some form 

 or other. Hence the "long brace" is 

 employed in the better work of this sort. 



Fig. 4 shows a section of balloon 

 framing with a good form of bracing. 

 The sill is laid in the ordinary way. 

 The posts, which are usually simply 

 nailed at the foot, should be mortised 

 into the sill and held in a perpendicular 

 position by the use of temporary diag- 

 onal stays. The window and door studs 

 are made up of two 2x4 studs, one of 

 which should be mortised into the sill. 

 The common studs are securely nailed 

 at the foot and carried up to irregular 

 heights, spaced and held by tempo- 

 rary stays, as already stated. The first 

 floor timbers are set in place and enough 

 of the under floor covering laid loosely 

 upon them to work on. The "false 

 girt," which is the same as the "ledger 

 board " of the braced frame, is then let Showing rough stuccco walls ' with pitch roof and overhan eing 

 into the inside of the studs, and the 



second-floor timbers put in place and floor boards laid loosely upon them. The 

 height of the plate is then calculated and the uprights cut oflF or spliced out to 



