A wood-frame construction method where wall studs run continuously from the sill plate to the roof plate, with floor joists nailed to the sides of studs using ribbon boards. Examples: - Victorian-era homes (1850s-1930s) – Multi-story houses with ornate facades often used balloon framing for - its ease of constructing tall, continuous walls - Two-story gable structures – As shown in the uploaded image, where studs extend uninterrupted through both floor levels to the roof peak - Narrow urban townhouses – Where tall, straight walls were needed on party walls between adjacent buildings Key Characteristics: - Continuous studs span multiple stories - Floor joists rest on ribbon boards notched into studs - Requires fire blocking between floors (per IRC R302.11) - Less common today due to fire safety concerns and long lumber requirements