What Is the Difference Between a Knee Wall & a Pony Wall?
- Half Wall. The term pony wall is often used interchangeably with the terms knee wall, half wall or sub wall to refer to a wall that does not extend all ...
- Foundation Pony Wall. The term pony wall is used to refer to a load-bearing wall that rests on the sill plate of a foundation and supports the joists of the ...
- Non-Structural Walls. ...
- Attic Knee Wall. ...
Why is it called a pony wall?
Pony walls differ from knee walls, which are generally intended to support something such as a countertop, handrail, or rafter. The supposed origins of pony walls confirms the name: It's said short walls were originally added to stables for ponies.
How do you build a knee wall?
Instructions
- The knee wall will be built on the floor of the attic, and then tipped into place against the rafters. ...
- Cut six lengths of 2x4, each 2 1/2 feet long.
- Use a template to determine the angle on each of those six pieces of 2x4; draw a line across that angle.
- Use a miter saw to cut each 2x4 on that angle.
Do I really need knee walls in my attic?
One of the benefits to using knee walls in the attic is the increases stability they provide. Once installed, they’ll support some of the weight from the rafters. It’s not uncommon for builders to place them up against the rafters while working on the roof. Once the roof is complete, they may take the knee walls down or leave them up.
When to install a knee wall in your attic?
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. The exact height of the knee wall is your choice.
Why do they call it a pony wall?
Pony walls differ from knee walls, which are generally intended to support something such as a countertop, handrail, or rafter. The supposed origins of pony walls confirms the name: It's said short walls were originally added to stables for ponies.
What is a knee and pony wall?
Half Wall. The term pony wall is often used interchangeably with the terms knee wall, half wall or sub wall to refer to a wall that does not extend all the way from the floor to the ceiling.
Why is it called a knee wall?
The term is derived from the association with a human knee, partly bent. Knee walls are common in houses in which the ceiling on the top floor is an attic, i.e. the ceiling is the underside of the roof and slopes down on one or more sides.
What is a pony wall in architecture?
A pony wall is a short wall. In different circumstances, it may refer to: a half wall that only extends partway from floor to ceiling, without supporting anything. a stem wall, a concrete wall that extends from the foundation slab to the cripple wall or floor joists.
Are pony walls outdated?
Pony walls were famous back in the 1960s, so some people may think they've gone out of style by now. But believe it or not, these short, usually non-weight-bearing walls may have lots of useful and aesthetic purposes around your house. Pony walls are actually coming back in style in some home designs.
Do knee walls support rafters?
Roof rafters must be supported by bracing (kickers) or kneewalls unless the rafters are sized to span from eaves to ridge and their ends are prevented from spreading by proper connection to continuous (or lap-spliced) ceiling joists.
What is the top of a pony wall 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.
What is the half wall in a loft called?
pony wallA pony wall is also known as a half wall, stem wall, short wall, or cripple wall. Pony walls are about interior design as they are not full-height walls and are often used as room dividers. However, a knee wall is often used for attic structural support, as one example.
How wide is a pony wall?
The best height for a pony wall is approximately 18-24 inches with a minimum width of 12 inches. A pony wall defines garden spaces without obstructing views. A pony wall highlights garden features, such as fountains and fire pits.
Are knee walls load-bearing?
These low walls help define the living space by creating vertical surfaces between the sloping rafters and the finished floor. They're typically framed with 2x4s and built 4-feet-high so they can easily be covered with full sheets of drywall. In most cases a knee wall is not a load-bearing partition.
What is a porch knee wall?
While not as prevalent as they used to be, knee walls are a type of porch railing that can still be found in many Craftsman-style houses today. These short walls, typically 3-feet high, allow you to sit on your porch and see out into the world while providing privacy and a certain architectural look and feel.
How high is a knee wall?
three feet highA knee wall is a short vertical wall, roughly two or three feet high, thats used to support rafters in the roof. It also blocks off the space that's too small (due to the sloping roof) to use for anything in an attic.
How To Decorate A Half Wall?
The beautiful thing about half walls is they can be used as storage spaces or as a privacy wall in bathrooms. The space above a pony wall can funct...
What Is Knee Wall Insulation?
Knee walls have R-13 fiberglass rolls, called batts. The rolls contain stapled reflective insulation. The material seals the fiberglass batts. Atti...
How To Make A Pony Wall Sturdy?
Pony walls are not responsible for a vertical structural load, but this doesn't mean they don't need to be strong. You don’t want a pony wall that...
How High Is A Pony Wall?
Half the walls are between three and four feet. When building or remodeling, have them frame the wall 42 inches and see how you like it. Because th...
How Do You Remove Knee Walls?
Knee walls are often installed wrong and do not have a floor to the top plate. When removing a knee wall, remember, they are load-bearing walls. In...
Why is it called a pony wall?
The name isn’t as obvious as knee wall. But it makes sense once you know the history. You see, the first pony wall was used to keep small ponies from escaping. It was used as a fence or pen of sorts. That’s why it’s called a pony wall.
How to make a pony wall?
Building a pony wall is easier than a full wall, but it takes experience. You will need to cut each vertical board exactly the same length. And cut the top and bottom board to the same length.
What is knee wall?
A knee wall is a wall that supports the rafters of a roof. It is a rather niche term and is used to describe this type of wall alone. A knee wall can have cubby space behind it, similar to space above a ceiling with an attic above.
How tall is a knee wall?
The term knee wall no doubt came from the fact that the walls are usually less than 3ft tall. They are, in short, knee-height. They also support a lot of weight, and so do knees. So the name is really a given.
How to build a wall with a board?
From here it’s just like building a wall. Cut the boards where you marked them. You can build a wall first and then put it up. Start with the bottom board and mark every 16-inches. Do the same for the top board.
Is a knee wall a pony wall?
A knee wall is always a load-bearing wall while a pony wall is not. A pony wall is primarily for decoration and dividing rooms. Sometimes, the words are interchangeable, but more often than not, they are distinct works with two separate meanings. A knee wall is a knee wall and a pony wall is a pony wall. Try to use them for what they are.
Can you put a pony wall next to a toilet?
Shower Or Toilet Divider. Even within the bathroom, privacy can be nice. If you add a pony wall next to a toilet, you can feel safer. And if you add one to a shower, you can add glass above it for an entirely unique look.
What is the difference between a knee wall and a pony wall?
Knee walls are a bit more versatile in their uses while pony walls have fairly specific applications. Most pony walls are load-bearing as integral parts of a building’s structure while most knee walls are not. Prev Article Next Article.
What is a pony wall?
A pony wall is a short wall, a knee-wall is frequently interchanged with the pony wall in basic designs, but there are some notable differences you should be aware of.
Why are pony walls called short walls?
This is where the term originated. It is important to note that even though a pony wall is a short wall it can be used to bear the entire weight load of a structure and transmit that load to the foundation. You can determine if a pony wall is ...
How to tell if a pony wall is load bearing?
You can determine if a pony wall is a load-bearing wall by how it is positioned. If it runs perpendicular to the joists, it is likely a bearing wall. Some pony walls are not load-bearing but most are.
How tall is a pony wall?
According to Homex, a pony wall is ideally around 3 feet in height.
Is a knee wall a load bearing wall?
Although it may extend up to the rafters of an attic, it is not a load-bearing wall in most cases. Knee walls are used to separate spaces and create new spaces within a building, a garden, or even a courtyard. They are often used to hold up a set of rails for stairways, and while they support the load of the rails, ...
What Is A Pony Wall?
A pony wall is a half wall. Technically, it is called a self-supporting knee wall because it serves no function except to divide space.
What Is A Knee Wall?
A knee wall is the best name for a structure that supports a roof overhang. It can be a load-bearing wall or not depending on its height and design but it provides support for the rafters above it, so it must be able to bear weight.
Where To Use A Pony Wall
A pony wall can be used anywhere you want to divide space without blocking the light from inside your home.
Where To Use A Knee Wall
Knee walls are a very specific type of wall that don’t serve the same purposes as other types of walls. They provide support, but not decoration and can offer vertical backgrounds in upper levels which is useful for adding depth to an area.
How To Build A Knee Wall
Building a knee wall needs to be done over another load-bearing wall. Doing this will give the best results and it isn’t necessary but highly recommended. So if you want your walls looking good as well, make sure you build them right.
How To Make A Pony Wall
Pony walls are used for a variety of purposes such as dividing an area, separating two different spaces, or even keeping things neat and tidy. Whether there’s cabling in the room, plumbing running around somewhere behind one of these walls, or whatever else might be hiding back there – pony walls help solve almost any problem without causing them.
