What is another term for knee walls?

Knee walls are short walls that typically support the rafters of a roof and help define the slope of the roof while also providing usable space in an attic or upper level. The term "dwarf walls" refers specifically to this type of structure, indicating their lower height compared to standard walls. Knee walls are often found in spaces where the roofline creates limited headroom, making them integral to both the stability of the roof and the layout of the room.

The other options do not correctly describe knee walls. "Dormer walls" refer to the walls of a dormer, which is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof. "Purlins" are horizontal beams that are used to support the roof deck and are positioned along the length of a roof, while "ridge beams" are structural members that run along the peak of a roof and support the rafters at the top. Each of these plays a different role in roofing and does not refer to the short walls that define knee walls.