No. 144.] 405 



HOW TO BUILD BALLOON FRAMES. 

 Mr. Robinson said — At our last meeting I made some remarks 

 which were followed by others upon the subject of " Balloon 

 Frames" of dwellings and other public buildings, a slight sketch 

 of which I published in the Tribune, not deeming it important to 

 enter into the minutiae of hours to make such buildings. I find 

 that I did not appreciate the importance of the subject, for I have 

 received a score of letters and personal inquiries from various 

 parts of the country showing that a great many farmers would 

 like to know how to build a farm house for half the present ex- 

 pense. I therefore ask the indulgence of the Club while I start a 

 balloon from the foundation and finish it to the roof. I would 

 saw all my timber for a frame house, or ordinary frame out-build- 

 ing, of the following dimensions : two inches by eight, two by 

 four, two by one. I have, however, built them when I lived on 

 the Grand Prairie of Indiana, many miles from saw mills, nearly 

 all of split and hewed stuff, making use of rails or round poles, 

 reduced to straight lines, and even thickness on two sides, for 

 studs and rafters. But sawed stuff" is much the easiest though in 

 a timber country the other is far the cheapest. First, level your 

 foundation, and lay down two of the two-by-eight pieces, flatwise, 

 for sidewalls. Upon these set the floor sleepers on edge 32 inches 

 apart. Fasten one at each end, and, perhaps, one or two in the 

 middle, if the building is large, with a wooden pin. These end- 

 sleepers are the end sills. Now, lay the floor, unless you design 

 to have one that would be likely to be injured by the weather 

 before you get the roof on. It is a great saving though of labor 

 to begin at the bottom of a house and build up. In laying the 

 floor first you have no studs to cut and fit around, and can let 

 your boards run out over the ends, just as it happens, and after- 

 ward saw them off" smooth by the sill. Now set up a corner post, 

 which is nothing but one of the two-by-four studs, fastening the 

 bottom by four nails ; mike it plumb, and stay it each way. Set 

 another at the other corner, and then mark off your door and 

 window places, and set up the side stud? and put in the frames. 

 Fill up the studs between, 16 inches apart, supporting the top by 

 a line or strip of board from corner to corner, or stayed studs be- 

 tween. Now covQr that side with rough sheeting boards unless 



