Build An Attic Knee Wall

This project is something that most homeowners could complete in just a few hours.

Build an attic knee wall.

Knee walls are the short interior walls built beneath the roof rafters. Cut six lengths of 2x4 each 2 1 2 feet long. Here you ll recess a chest of drawers into the knee wall of an upstairs bedroom. You can see the image below for an example of a knee wall.

How to construct knee walls in attics 1. Knee walls are short usually wooden walls installed around the sides of an attic where the rafters meet the floor. You ll gain a full size eight drawer chest without sacrificing a single square inch of floor space. Use a miter.

Use a template to determine the angle on each of those six pieces of 2x4. Determine the location and line of. Snap a chalk line. One of your 2x4s.

Caulk all other holes or cracks or stuff with fiberglass batt insulation or spray foam. Framing basics for attic knee walls along the sides of your loft or attic space. 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. To make better use of this empty space build knee wall storage doors for easy access to the space behind the wall.

Access the attic using a stepladder at the attic access panel or the attic stairs. Department of energy recommends that you complete several steps. Instructions the knee wall will be built on the floor of the attic and then tipped into place against the rafters. Draw a line across that angle.

You can convert hidden unused spaces into valuable storage areas. Step 1 use a stud finder to locate the studs in the knee wall where you intend to install your storage doors. To reduce air infiltration the u s. 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.

Cover rafters with an air barrier. Support and follow me. Use your saw to cut along this line. Rigid air barrier material could include rigid foam insulation drywall plywood or osb among others.