Pseudo-knee wall
#1
Pseudo-knee wall
My friend asked me to help finish his attic. I intended to build a knee wall with a rip on the top plate to accommodate the pitch of the roof. He was under the impression that we could omit the top plate and just tie the knee wall studs into the rafters. After thinking about this, the main advantage that I can draw of building a traditional wall is the speed of making it. Because it will not support any weight, I can't think of any structural reasons for omitting a top plate. However, I am not a construction engineer and I may be overlooking something. Will the alternative method create problems for hanging drywall? I'd appreciate any help offered on this.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Personally, I would install the top plate as you outlined. If it is not gonig to be structural then it doesn't matter really if a plate is there. But, it will most likely make it easier for you when you do install the drywall. Just don't eliminate the bottom plate!