Timber & Balloon Frame Houses
A homes's frame it the most important part of it's structure. It defines the style and layout of the house and does the heavy lifting to assure the rest of the components stay in their proper position and alignment.
Not every frame is built the same way. Today, most of the homes built in America use a technique called Platform framing. But this wasn't always the case. Over the years there have been two other techniques that were synonymous with home building up until the next new thing took over.
Timber Framing
Timber Frame The most ancient form of wood construction. It is still practiced today by craftsman in small niches of the building community. No-one knows its origins, but the oldest existing timber frame structure still around today is the Ise Temple in Japan (690 AD).
Timber frame structures last hundreds of years because of their inherent strength and stability. The most impressive part is that they attain this immense level of strength without the use of metal fasteners like screws or nails!
Until the Industrial revolution nails were very expensive because they were hand cut. A timber frame uses complex mortise and tenon joinery to attach the posts and beams snuggly together.
The lumber used for timber framing is of significant size. 6x6 and larger timbers are common. Timber frame homes were the norm across American until the late 1800s when balloon framing became the popular choice. Most historic homes built before the turn of the 20th century are timber framed.
You can tell if your home is timber framed by snooping around in the basement or attic where you might be able to see the large, hand-hewn timbers. A timber frame is completely self-sufficient and requires no cross-bracing or sheathing to add racking strength to the frame.
This is by far the strongest method of framing. It also the most complicated and can be the most expensive. You get what you pay for!
Timber frames require a master craftsman (a housewright) to build and those trained craftsman are not cheap. Anyone can drive nails into wood, but only a skilled builder can make the perfectly matched joints of a timber frame. years.
Balloon Frame
The balloon frame came about when people began looking for a way to build houses faster without the skilled labor needed for a timber frame. Only the trained craftsman able to cut the complex timber frame joinery.
Around the same time dimensional lumber (2x4, 2x6 etc.) was hitting the shelves of America along with inexpensive manufactured nails. And balloon framing used these revamped options.
In balloon framing dimensional lumber is fastened with nails and runs all the way from sill to peak. Balloon framed houses use some extremely long lumber.
The balloon frame brought the art of building a house into aan attainable job for the average contractor. Where the first balloon framed house was built is shrouded in mystery. Though Chicago is a likely contender.
The house was thought so flimsy by timber frame builders that it reminded them of a balloon which is how it got its name. Even though they were mocked they spread quickly throughout the country due to their ease of construction. And from 1890-1930 or thereabouts most homes in America were balloon framed.
The biggest problem with balloon framed houses is the fire risk. In the days of no insulation fires spread quickly through the long wide open cavities of the balloon frame. Balloon frame houses can be retrofitted and insulated with added fire blocking to slow the fire.
Both of these forms of construction are an important part of our country's history. And when you look at an old house from the last century know that it is likely one of these techniques that is still supporting it today.