Build An Attic Knee Wall

Draw a line across that angle.

Build an attic knee wall.

Framing basics for attic knee walls along the sides of your loft or attic space. Instructions the knee wall will be built on the floor of the attic and then tipped into place against the rafters. Use your saw to cut along this line. You can convert hidden unused spaces into valuable storage areas.

Caulk all other holes or cracks or stuff with fiberglass batt insulation or spray foam. How to construct knee walls in attics 1. To reduce air infiltration the u s. Mark the line that the angle forms along your 2x4.

Use a template to determine the angle on each of those six pieces of 2x4. One of your 2x4s. Snap a chalk line. Rigid air barrier material could include rigid foam insulation drywall plywood or osb among others.

Step 1 measure the attic to build your walls to the correct length measure the angle of the rafter by laying a piece of 2x4 inch lumber against the side of the rafter in a vertical position. Here you ll recess a chest of drawers into the knee wall of an upstairs bedroom. Access the attic using a stepladder at the attic access panel or the attic stairs. Department of energy recommends that you complete several steps.

Support and follow me. Determine the location and line of. To make better use of this empty space build knee wall storage doors for easy access to the space behind the wall. Knee walls are short usually wooden walls installed around the sides of an attic where the rafters meet the floor.

In most instances they are no taller than 3 feet but some builders may custom fit them according to the roof s shape and size. Install a continuous air barrier on the exterior side of the attic knee wall framing with a rigid air barrier or other supporting material to prevent the knee wall cavity insulation from sagging and to create a continuous thermal barrier. Knee walls are the short interior walls built beneath the roof rafters. This project is something that most homeowners could complete in just a few hours.

Cover rafters with an air barrier. Determine the length of the knee wall from end to end and double this to determine the lineal footage of the. You ll gain a full size eight drawer chest without sacrificing a single square inch of floor space. You can see the image below for an example of a knee wall.