Balloon Framing! How it started, why it happened, how it matters.

Balloon framing was a system of building made popular by a fast-expanding country, new industrial technology, and one other thing. Can you guess?
Come find out how and why it started.
This is the last part of my Romantic era lecture that you can watch all of here: • Building & Brews: Roma...
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[@cdp200442]

I could watch this type of show every day.. this is what’s important.. our past.

[@BrentHull]

Amen.

[@dichebach]

Many decades ago I had an "American Urban History" course as an undergraduate, and it was one of the best courses I ever took. Most of the lessons are just vague generalities for me now, but one thing I remember is the innovation of "balloon frame" construction and how much of an improvement it was over traditional methods using mortise and tenon joints. I also recall the bit about the cheaper nails later in the 19th century! My recollection is that I was taught that balloon framing was an ENORMOUS cost savings and construction time saving method and it was a big part of why westward expansion in places like Chicago and St. Louis was so rapid from the 1840s and afterward.

[@BrentHull]

All true. Thanks for watching.

[@MovieNutter]

Brent. Your videos are really interesting. I appreciate the way you join the dots to explain the evolution of design and build. Always fascinating. Thank for taking the time to do this.

[@BrentHull]

I appreciate that! Thanks for the feedback.

[@rogerhodges7656]

Blunt nails tear the wood cross grain fibers. Pointed nails tend to split those fibers. Another great video. Thank you.

[@barryallen5507]

From what I understand about the physics of nails and wood grain, wedge shaped blunt nails also provide superior holding force, particularly because they tear the wood fibers and force them down along with the nail, creating a geometric bias.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thanks for watching.

[@BrentHull]

Nice, I haven't heard that but it makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

[@cdp200442]

Railroad brought ties, lumber, kerosene, steel, oil , hardware, flour ..etc.. our ancestors in Minnesota built everything we take for granted and could do so much more with better knowledge of their trades ( craft) .. thank you Great grandpa ..and grandpa… you guys were steel but gentle as a lamb .

[@BrentHull]

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@robertbamford8266]

“Balloon framing.” Learn a new term. I found myself wondering what influence rail-car length and loading techniques had/has on lumber sizes. I also wondered why you cut off McMansions in the 1990s - or was that just when they first appeared? We are still afflicted with them. Cheek by jowl in many cases. There are also a growing number of retrofitted 1 story ranch houses with exaggerated 12’ column-wrapped front entries. An attempt at some sort of Mediterranean look? Great video. Keep them coming! (As quickly as possible, please, so I can remember from one to the next.)

[@BrentHull]

Working on it! Thanks for watching.

[@CF-3300]

I’ve heard that McMansions are late 1970’s-present. The vast majority being built between the end of the Cold War in 1991 and the 2008 stock market crash.

[@michaelbissen1946]

Love this stuff Brent, I have a construction company in KC, I love explaining to my guys how you can date a house from materials used, great stuff

[@BrentHull]

That is awesome! Keep up the good work.

[@toddavis8603]

Brent Hull is a fountain of carpentry and building knowledge!"

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@sauces_official]

I like these videos made of live presentations by Mr Hull, his excitement shows compared to many of his videos of himself talking to the camera where IMO he comes off as unwelcoming.

[@BrentHull]

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on it.

[@trickyricky12147]

It was that beer. LOL

[@mikerichard5580]

Brent I wish you had a video on the old Victorian houses that were built being around and how they designed the bell-shaped roofs and how they curved how is everything made so perfectly done and circles with rugged wood that they had to use

[@BrentHull]

Great point, i do need to do a video like that. I'll work on it. Thx.

[@trickyricky12147]

One thing specifically I can think of for the circular tower sections of some Victorian era houses was that the method for stick framing curved walls was to cut the top and bottom plates of those walls using plywood. You can easily draw your top and bottom plates as an arch shape on a sheet of plywood and just cut out those pieces rather than using 2x lumber boards and trying to make those boards curved. Impossible to do it that way, so the plywood method makes a lot more sense, then you just layout the wall studs like normal, but follow the curve of those top and bottom plates. Plywood isn't as relatively new as we think either. It goes back to the 1850s or around there. I could be way off on the date though. Hope this is helpful!

[@LarissaHolland-r7h]

great presentation !

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@pcatful]

Exuberance and excitement. True, like McMansions. taste goes out the window.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed!

[@LogHewer]

Good stuff!

[@BrentHull]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@thelittleblackyoshi]

I'm trying to learn all that I can about old school building methods and techniques as I build my own homestead/farm. Do you believe that nailed joints and smaller dimensional lumber are always a compromise in quality compared to timber framing? I want to learn how to timber frame myself, but it doesn't seem like timber framing every structure would always be practical.

[@BrentHull]

I just they are different. Houses that were nailed together still last if they are sheathed and clad properly. Nailing requires more boards to do the same thing. Only a purist would say timber framing is better. More authentic- yes. better?

[@thelittleblackyoshi]

@@BrentHull Thanks for the reply. Older houses and traditional building methods really speak to me, so I'm glad I found your channel!

[@bloodeaglehohos7099]

Very informative.

[@BrentHull]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching

[@crowznest438]

I enjoyed that.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@deirdrestultztully]

Augustine Taylor is just credited with building the the first balloon frame structure in Chicago.

[@BrentHull]

That's the story. I'm not sure its true. Could be but I doubt it.

[@tdela2179]

I have a balloon framed house from the 1870s that’s a combination of timber framing and balloon framing.

[@BrentHull]

I see that in our two historic projects both built in 1870s and 1880s. Thanks.

[@rayc3214]

balloon framing also allowed for air circulation in hot climates

[@BrentHull]

True!

[@janisb8064]

Is there a ridge vent?

[@hots4jc]

I have a balloon frame house and it was built in 1895.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Balloon framing lasts into the 1920's in various forms. Thanks for sharing.

[@HeroOfTime303]

I prefer timber framing.

[@BrentHull]

I get it!

[@HeroOfTime303]

@@BrentHull Balloon framing does allow more flexibility with design but I believe the old carpenters were right in some regard to calling it "balloon" framing. Balloon framing compromises on the skill of the builder and becomes a less enduring structure than that of timber framing. Thanks for the videos, Brent!