Loft storage

[beckhamk]

We have a nice size loft and we need some additional storage, so I am looking to build some shelves/ doored storage areas on the side walls.  I am not sure if the correct term would be to call it a knee wall or not?  But I am looking to come out about 2.5 to 3ft on each side.  I wanted to see if anyone has done this and if they had pictures or examples on how to accomplish this.  I just wasnt sure on how to make it nice and proper setup for the doors etc.

thanks in advance!

[OlJarhead]

No pictures but I'm planning on something similar -- a chest the sits on the catwalk against the kneewall the length of the catwalk (so ~8' long by 18" wide and deep).

[Redoverfarm]

We have a nice size loft and we need some additional storage, so I am looking to build some shelves/ doored storage areas on the side walls.  I am not sure if the correct term would be to call it a knee wall or not?  But I am looking to come out about 2.5 to 3ft on each side.  I wanted to see if anyone has done this and if they had pictures or examples on how to accomplish this.  I just wasnt sure on how to make it nice and proper setup for the doors etc.

thanks in advance!

Been there and done that.  I built storage down both sides of my house 48' long.  Even built a childs barn in one for all the little farm animals , tractors and barns that a growing boy needs.     The exceptions was 3 dormers and stairway.  Haven't got time now but I will try to take a few pictures later.

[Redoverfarm]

We have a nice size loft and we need some additional storage, so I am looking to build some shelves/ doored storage areas on the side walls.  I am not sure if the correct term would be to call it a knee wall or not?  But I am looking to come out about 2.5 to 3ft on each side.  I wanted to see if anyone has done this and if they had pictures or examples on how to accomplish this.  I just wasnt sure on how to make it nice and proper setup for the doors etc.

thanks in advance!

I found a few minutes to illustrate what I did on my kneewall/attic space.  I moved my insulated wall of the kneewall back to 18" heigth from my eve.  Basicly followed the same insulation practices (rafter-mates, insulation) as you would at the regular kneewall heigth.  I framed out the openings just like you would for a door and faced it with 3/4 material.  I built raised panel doors (exception of barn door which is dutch).  I used cabinet hinges to affix the door to the finished face frame, cased them out like a regular door.  When my house was constructed there was dormer allowances on both the front and the back.  I only used dormers on the front which left the back with 3- 4' dormer openings in the rafters (attic truss's).  On these I headed them off and made a double bi-fold door using raised panel doors.  On the space inside that dormer opening I again used the same framing procedures to make a single door which leads to the right and left area behind the high kneewall.  I used scrap drywall and finished out all of the openings interior surfaces.

I will post pictures of some of the doors. Please excuse the mess as these are teenage boys and daughters rooms.

This is an end storage area adjacent to front dormer opening.  Notice the small door to the right. This is the type of door I used inside the double bi-folds in the dormer openings of the rear of the house to gain access to those area's.



Dormer openings with individual single doors leading to the right and left as I described earlier.  There is also storage area directly behind those doors.



End storage area immediately opposite the barn storage.



Just be careful that if you remove a kneewall support(rafter) that you head it off to maintain support.  You can either make the doors single to fit in between the kneewall studs or head off to make double doors. You would be amazed at how much storage you can gain down both sides of the attic/2nd floor space.  But then again it is also amazing at how much stuff you can get in those areas.   My wife has designated certain areas for Christmas Decorations, clothing and the like.  And being that it is an insulated, finished area everything stays clean and cool unlike a regular attic/kneewall space.

Good luck. If I can help you out any just let me know

[beckhamk]

Thanks for the pics, you would happen to have pics of the inside or how you designed the inside?

[Redoverfarm]

Thanks for the pics, you would happen to have pics of the inside or how you designed the inside?

I just used standard framing techniques.  Depending on what you have available dictates the design.  Just picture framing a room but on a lot smaller scale.  As for the insulated wall (approx. 18-20") I just used scrap material (2X's) to build this making a sil plate to sit on the floor joist and attaching them to the rafter at the top. The drywall inside was also left over basicly with the purchase of a few additional sheet.  The floor I left as 1/2" cedar plywood that I had obtained earlier w/exception of the barn which I carpeted.  Hope this helps.

[considerations]

"...I am looking to build some shelves/ doored storage areas on the side walls."

Me too...in another phase.

[Redoverfarm]

You would be surprised at the number of homes build with kneewalls remain just that kneewalls which is insulated and the space behind just goes to waste.  I forgot to mention that in a portion of mine I ran duct work for the furnace as well.