Favorite method for angled top plate?
firsttimeroller
| Posted in General Discussion on
I’m curious to hear some of your methods for building knee walls. I was thinking of doing a double top plate, using 2×6’s ripped at 45 degrees on one side to match the edge of the 2×4 studs also cut at 45 to be flush with with the roof. The 2x4s will hang over a little on the back side…my thought was that 2×4’s would be just to narrow for the top plates after ripping them. Is this a standard way to do this or is there a better way? And what is the purpose of the double top plate on a knee wall anyway. I’ve seen it a lot in pictures but I don’t know what. Also, they don’t mention knee walls in my Faming Walls Taunton book. 😉
thanks again,
marr
Replies
Typically for a knee wall in attic space it is only finished on one side, so you don’t need to concern yourself with how the studs plane through to top plate on unfinished side. I usually just cut the studs at an angle and don’t bother ripping a bevel on the top plate. Drywall will span the small 1 1/2” void at top plate, no problem. Don’t need a double top plate if your studs line up with rafters. If the studs will not line up with rafters, best to have a double top for added support. If you have a snow loaded rafter landing in the middle of spacing of two studs with one top plate it could potentially create too much stress on the top plate which may deflect and crack drywall. If you install a double top plate in that scenario, it will be much better.
J. Thanks. I appreciate the response.
Matt