Baloon Framing Second Floor Joists

One of our recent whole house balloon frame remodeling projects had a floor so out of level that anyone sitting on the toilet in the future bathroom risked sliding off.

Baloon framing second floor joists. In balloon framed walls the studs are continuous from the mudsill all the way to the top plates on the uppermost floor where the rafters rest. This type of construction is the most difficult but does provide unobstructed openings between the floors. Framing for floor openings a staircase is essential for commuting between floors but it creates an opening in the second floor so you can t run the joists from one side of the house to the other without interruption. The floor joists for the second floor were usually supported on a ledger or ribbon that was let into the studs.

Hanging a floor system off balloon framed walls isn t too different from platform framing. Balloon framed walls are different than platform framed walls. In balloon framing the studs extend as one from the sill to the top plate of the second story. Floor joists on the second and third floors are supported by let in ledger boards and the joists are usually nailed to the.

By tim biebel the floor system is comprised of weyerhaeuser s tji joists microllam lvls for ledgers timberstrand lsl rim board and huber s advantech flooring. The second story floor joists are supported by a ribbon board set into the studs. Balloon framing is sometimes used with two story buildings.