[JohnsPop]

I want to finish an attic in an older home so I would like to install knee walls to close things in. Do I install the knee wall first and then lay decking up to the wall or do I lay decking first and install the knee wall on top of that? Thanks.

[ballengerb1]

You need veticle studs behind the knee wall so do that first, then it doesn't matter which comes next. I would do the flooring but there is no rule.

[JohnsPop]

Ok, showing my ignorance here... I need verticle studs *behind* the knee wall? I was going to rip a top plate to the proper angle so my drywall would be flush and then just build the wall, stand it up and nail it in. Is there something else I need to do? I've got about a dozen home repair and framing books and I couldn't find a single thing about how to do this.

[ballengerb1]

No John you can do what you describ. That is how we build a wall normally but with a knee wall we frequently tie into what's already there, the rafters and the floor joist. Either way is good.

[EMERIL LAGASSE]

Put in the sub floor first, if the area is used for storage add additional flooring as needed
With the sub floor below the wall framing you have a full bottom plate exposed for drywall fastening and wood baseboard attachment, and frame wall as you described :)

[JohnsPop]

Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to getting started on this.

[ballengerb1]

Let us know how it goes, we are interested in outcomes.