Estimating Knee Walls

NOTE-- We replaced MacNail with Goldenseal construction estimating software back in 2000. There are still die-hard MacNail users, so we keep the manuals online for their use! Goldenseal is an integrated program that also includes accounting, job costing and project management features. Both programs take a similar approach to estimating, and these instructions also apply to Goldenseal Estimates.

Knee Walls and Pass-Throughs

Knee walls (for example, half height walls in stairways) can usually be treated like a regular wall in the MacNail construction estimating software: we find they add enough labor problems to make up for the reduction in material cost.

Pass-throughs call for additional framing labor (Other Framing). The change in sheetrock is not worth bothering with.

For both knee walls and pass-throughs, be sure to add the cap (in Other interior trim).

Knee walls under sloping ceilings (for example, in attic rooms) call for additional framing if you'd like to add it (Other Framing). It usually doesn't affect other job dimensions enough to bother with.