How I Learned
to Love
Balloon Framing
by Paul Hanke
Several years ago I had occasion to
help a young couple in nearby
Peacham, Vt. design and build a
house that taught me a valuable lesson
about when to use balloon framing.
During the design stages everything
sent smoothly. Working from the
owners' sketches and ideas we
developed a plan for a modified
saltbox-style house that was
contemporary in feeling but
reminiscent of traditional New
England farmhouses. The final design
was for a two-story house with a
1 1/2-story wall along most of the south
side, and a one-story wall on the
north, resulting in the desired semisaltbox
appearance when viewed from
the gable end. A steep roof pitch and
clapboard exterior added