Core terms

Knee Wall

Core terms · definition

A short wall, typically under a sloped roof or supporting a counter or railing, that is less than full ceiling height.

Source: DOE Building America Solution Center — Attic Knee Walls

  • Lien

    A legal claim against your property for unpaid work or materials. A mechanic's lien filed by an unpaid subcontractor can cloud your title…

  • Joist

    One of the repetitive horizontal members that support a floor or ceiling, spanning between beams or walls. Joist size, spacing, and direc…

  • Lien Waiver

    A signed document in which a contractor or supplier gives up the right to file a lien for a given payment. Collect lien waivers with each…

  • Insulation

    Material that resists heat flow, rated by R-value, installed in walls, ceilings, and floors. Opened walls are the opportunity to upgrade…

  • Liquidated Damages

    A pre-agreed dollar amount the contractor owes the owner for each day a project runs past the contracted completion date. Must be a reaso…

  • Inspection

    A code official's review of work at defined stages (rough-in, framing, final) to verify compliance before the next phase can proceed. Fai…

  • Load-Bearing Wall

    A wall that carries weight from the structure above down to the foundation. Removing or opening one requires an engineered beam and posts…

  • Header

    A horizontal structural member spanning the top of an opening (door, window, cased opening) that transfers the load above around the open…

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

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