Loft room wall height

[Two Pump Chump]

A neighbor mentioned that the requirement for the wall height that forms an upstairs living area is 42 or 48 inches, I cant recall exactly. I am referring to a simple stud wall on the eave side of a rafter roof loft. The area under the diminishing angle formed by the ceiling and the exterior structural wall. It makes sense that the useable living space is defined by and formed by a wall. Cant insert/post pic for some reason ?

 

[billconner]

I do not believe there is s such a requirement in the IRC. Generally habital space - a living room or kitchen for instance must be 7'-0". Bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc can be 6'-8" depending on it's use. but there is an exception for sloped ceilings:

"For rooms with sloped ceilings, the required floor area of the room shall have a ceiling height of not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) and not less than 50 percent of the required floor area shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm)."

So if for instance a bedroom had to be 70 sf, 35 must be 7' or more, and 35 could be under sloped and 5 to 7'. There is no requirement to not have the sheetrock follow rafters ti where the "ceiling" meets the floor, it's just not part of the required sf.

 

[duneslider]

It has more to do with calculating what the livable space is, or the habitable space. For example A-frame houses are fine but areas of the floor can't be considered habitable due to no head height and just generally unusable space.

 

[Two Pump Chump]

Thanks Bill and Dune. That makes sense. For the floor space to " count" there has to be a minimum of 5 ft under the slope for it to be count. Awkward description, I know. My neighbor works for his brother, a builder, so they would be interested in what "counts" as that is what they would bill or charge $$ on. as afr as that triangle under the 5-ft, it seems there is no requirement via code to wall that off. I would prefer not to.

Pic posted !!

Shown below is the future bedroom 0n the left and bathroom on the right. Plans show walls enclosing the rooms, but nothing on the eave sides. Is that more clear ? - thanks

 

[billconner]

I was planning as similar master bedroom in last house - never got to it - but thought carpet and smooth bottomed "bins" for storage would work and look fine.

It's still work so not sure how it affects price. Hot to be hard to finish ceiling when it tapers to floor.

 

[duneslider]

The habitable space only counts when you are trying to classify something as a space someone has to "live" in such as a bedroom. Bedrooms by code have to be a certain amount of square feet and then a certain amount of that square feet has to provide enough headroom, etc. All the square footage counts as square footage when you build it but not all of it will count as habitable. Just like closets aren't habitable but you still have to pay for them as square footage.

When I finish areas under stairs I build a short wall like a foot tall to make it easier to drywall, trim, put flooring in. I have done it where it just tapers to the floor but it is hard to do everything down in that point. At a minimum I would put enough wall in to put baseboard on.

 

[Youngandfree]

Thanks Bill and Dune. That makes sense. For the floor space to " count" there has to be a minimum of 5 ft under the slope for it to be count. Awkward description, I know. My neighbor works for his brother, a builder, so they would be interested in what "counts" as that is what they would bill or charge $$ on. as afr as that triangle under the 5-ft, it seems there is no requirement via code to wall that off. I would prefer not to.

Pic posted !!

Shown below is the future bedroom 0n the left and bathroom on the right. Plans show walls enclosing the rooms, but nothing on the eave sides. Is that more clear ? - thanks

So you're not going to build a knee wall along the eaves? How would you finish the sheet rock at the bottom?

 

[Two Pump Chump]

Knee wall. Thats it. Not planning on sheet rock on the ceiling. Havent got to the finish yet by a long shot. Plans are incomplete so thanks for bringing it up. Maybe an "ankle wall" simply sheet or trim or some of the plank I have an excess of. No more than 10-inches or so. Lot sure yet. Any suggestions ? - thanks

 

[billconner]

Does it have to be sheetrock? Would center and edge bead t&g be ok?

I think a 1x6 or 1x8 mop board would finish it.

 

[Two Pump Chump]

Bill, the County inspector said sheet rock is not required on the ceiling or any wall for that matter. Yes, a simple board stained or painted to match will work. Have to wait and see. It brings up another issue with the electrical. Isn't power required on or at all walls ? State inspection and Different code . . .. . Yeet this is fun. Figuring out as I go.....

 

[Youngandfree]

Knee wall. Thats it. Not planning on sheet rock on the ceiling. Havent got to the finish yet by a long shot. Plans are incomplete so thanks for bringing it up. Maybe an "ankle wall" simply sheet or trim or some of the plank I have an excess of. No more than 10-inches or so. Lot sure yet. Any suggestions ? - thanks

You still have to have enough room to get to it with a nail gun or whatever to secure it, even if it's boards or whatever. Unless you have a palm nailer.