What Is Considered A Knee Wall?

A knee wall is a short vertical wall that supports the roof rafters and is about two to three feet high. It also serves to close off space in the attic that is too small (due to the slanting roof) and to make it functional.

Where are knee walls located?

Knee walls are often referred to as a half-wall or partition wall. They extend from the floor to a height of approximately 3 feet (91.44 cm) and are often constructed around or up against a shower stall or bathtub surround. Knee walls are generally an extension of the side of a bathtub or shower and can be tiled over.

What is the difference between a pony wall and a knee wall?

Also known as half walls, pony walls only come up—you guessed it—halfway or partway to partially divide a space. Pony walls differ from knee walls, which are generally intended to support something such as a countertop, handrail, or rafter.

Why do they call it a knee wall?

The term knee wall is derived from how the wall is less than 3 feet tall. Unlike regular walls, a knee wall is shorter than knee height and supports weight.

What do you call a wall that doesn’t reach the ceiling?

Demountable walls, also known as movable walls are architectural products used to construct enclosed environments. They can be detached from their ceiling and floor tracks and moved to another location.

Are attic knee walls structural?

Knee walls aren’t technically required for a structurally sound home or building, but they do take some of the load off the rafters. If you live in an older home and are concerned about the roof’s stability, it might be a good idea to install them.

Can a knee wall be load bearing?

A knee wall is usually not a load-bearing partition. Consult a licenced contractor or structural engineer if you’re not sure if a knee wall is load-bearing. If that’s the case, you can still put in a chest, but you’ll need to put in a double-2×6 header and a pair of trimmer studs to hold the rafters over the gap.

How much should a knee wall overhang?

1-2 inches
The overhang will generally be 1-2 inches on one side of the knee wall and will extend the remaining distance over the 2×4 knee wall with the determined amount of countertop. The larger side is most often used for eating or serving.

Do knee walls need insulation?

As a bonus, access doors into the conditioned space behind the knee wall won’t need insulation or weather stripping. If you can’t get at the underside of the rafters, or if creating a continuous air barrier would be impractical (for example, with truss roof framing), then you’ll need to insulate the knee wall itself.

How thick is a knee wall?

Home builders usually build 2×4 kneewalls that are 3.5″ thick.

What is a short wall in a house called?

A pony wall is nothing more than a short wall, and the term is often used interchangeably with “knee wall” or “cripple wall.” Pony walls, like regular walls, have top and bottom plates, that is, the horizontal members that the vertical studs fasten to.

Can a half wall be load-bearing?

Is a Partial Wall Load-Bearing? If the wall is a partial wall, meaning it stops short of an adjacent wall, it may or may not be load-bearing. For example, the builder may have installed a microlam beam to span across the opening and carry the load above.

What is a pony wall in a bathroom?

What is a pony wall? A pony wall is a half wall that extends partway from floor to ceiling, and doesn’t provide any support. A pony wall provides the function of a wall, yet enables an open design and clear ceiling line.

How do you determine a load-bearing wall?

From a basement or crawlspace, check to see if another wall or support structure is directly below a first-floor wall. If a wall has a beam, column or other wall directly below or following its same path, it’s a load-bearing wall. Walls more than 6 inches thick are usually load-bearing walls.

What is a knee wall in a basement?

An engineered knee wall (sometimes called a pony wall) is a poured concrete wall that is installed on the interior side of a foundation in a basement or cellar, in effect making the wall of the foundation twice as thick.

What are the four types of wall?

Following are various types of walls used in building construction:

• Load Bearing Wall. It carries loads imposed on it from beams and slabs above including its own weight and transfer it to the foundation.
• Non Load Bearing Wall.
• Cavity Walls.
• Shear Wall.
• Partition Wall.
• Panel Wall.
• Veneered Walls.
• Faced Wall.

What is a knee wall in an attic?

An attic knee wall is a vertical separation between attic space on one side and conditioned space on the other side.

What are non structural walls called?

A non-load bearing does not support any structural weight of a building or house. These types of walls are built lighter than a load bearing wall, and are often referred to as a ‘curtain wall‘.

How do you know if a wall is structural or not?

If a wall runs at a perpendicular angle to the joists, it is load-bearing. Any wall that doesn’t support another wall is most likely not a load-bearing wall. If a wall provides direct support to the structure of a house, it’s a structural wall that you should not remove.

Do all attics have knee walls?

Knee walls are not found in all attics, and they are not absolutely necessary. But they are awfully good to have. If your attic space is framed with rafters and is unfinished, it has a triangular shape. At the bottom points of the triangles, the rafters meet the top plates of the exterior walls.

How do I know if it is a structural wall?

If a wall is marked as “S” in the blueprint, this means “structural,” thus showing it’s a load-bearing wall. Check your ceiling — Take a look at your ceiling to identify any load-bearing beams that run across the house. Any walls beneath these beams are probably also load bearing.