You've heard of knee walls, but you might not know what they're used for. They'd be in roughly half of the houses you visited if you went to numerous recent construction homes. While some builders go over and above to incorporate them in their blueprints, others do not. Another thing that do-it-yourselfers commonly 'repair' poorly is a knee wall.
A knee wall is a vertical wall that is two to three feet high and allows for roof rafters. Additionally, it helps to divide up and create usable space in the too-small attic. Although not ubiquitous, knee walls are most frequently encountered in completed attics and upper-floor living spaces.
By creating vertical surfaces between the completed floor and the sloping rafters, these low walls aid in delineating the living rooms. A knee wall is not often a load-bearing wall. Consult a qualified contractor or structural engineer if you're unsure whether a knee wall is a load-bearing.
If you're unsure whether or not your attic has knee walls, take a close look at the area around it. Knee walls are seen in more boxy attics rather than trapezoidal ones. The joists lie below the surface of the living room because they run parallel to the wall. Because the insulation doesn't truly restrict airflow, hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter will move through your board.
The knee wall will offer some defence against air penetration from the outside on its own. On the other side, the knee wall typically isn't adequate to provide you with all the insulation you need. Many homeowners ponder if knee walls are necessary for their attic. We must first consider the purpose of knee walls and the reasons they are employed to adequately find the solution to the issue.
One advantage of installing knee walls in the attic is their excellent stability. Once installed, they will help support part of the weight of the rafters. Contractors frequently lean on the rafters when working on roofs. The knee barriers could either be taken down or left up until they were no longer required.
Although they are not technically essential for a perfect structural house, knee walls do aid in reducing rafter strain. If you reside in an older home and are concerned about the roof stability, installing knee walls can be a wise option.
Attic knee walls also act as pockets for insulation. You can see a small area behind the knee wall. For increased heat protection, homeowners should insulate this area rather than leave it uninsulated.
