What's a Knee Wall?

A knee wall is a short wall, typically under three feet in height, used to support the rafters in timber roof construction. In his book A Visual Dictionary of Architecture, Francis D. K. Ching defines a knee wall as "a short wall supporting rafters at some intermediate position along their length."

What does a knee wall do?

A knee wall is a short wall, typically under three feet (one metre) in height, used to support the rafters in timber roof construction. ... 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.

Is a pony wall the same as a knee wall?

Also known as half walls, pony walls only come up—you guessed it—halfway or partway to partially divide a space. Pony walls differ from knee walls, which are generally intended to support something such as a countertop, handrail, or rafter.