Anyone here work in construction or architecture?

[silverweb]

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but I need to know the proper term for an architectural feature.

It's a short section of blank wall that juts out into a room from the main wall. It serves no other purpose than to help define a separate space within the main room. In older homes, it might have included one on either side of the room forming an archway between them.

Right now, though, I just need to know what to call the short blank wall part of it.

Anyone? Pretty please?

[Ahpook]

1. Hmm

Can you maybe find a Google image and load it here?

My cousin and I have a remodeling business and see all sorts of weirdness in homes.

On edit: Probably the best built homes we have seen are post war. They are super solid, but aging and need some help and upgrades. But, they have had oddities thrown in over the years that are head scratching

[silverweb]

9. I don't have an image.

Just some building plans. I'll try to sketch out what I mean:

| . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . |
--- . . . . . . . . . .---
| . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . |

OK, so the dots are invisible, just space holders so the diagram doesn't collapse. The vertical and horizontal lines are all you see. The vertical lines are the outside walls. The horizontal lines are continuous, of course, and jut out about 18-24" from the main walls. Their sole purpose is to minimally define a separation of spaces within the larger room.

Does that make sense?

[silverweb]

15. A wing wall?

See my post #13 at the bottom. This is the best description I can find. Although wing walls are usually seen in bridges and things, interior architectural wing walls are also found. Is this it?

[sorcrow]

2. Pilaster might be the term you need.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilaster

Regards,
Crow

[silverweb]

4. Close.

If it doesn't have to be ornate and have crown molding on it and all that, maybe. I'm talking about the minimalist, stripped-down version. Is that still a pilaster?

[grumpyduck]

3. Those are often referred to as pony walls.

[silverweb]

6. I believe that's it!

These would be ceiling to floor, though, not topped by shelving or anything. Are they still pony walls?

[rusty quoin]

8. That was my thought.

[Callmecrazy]

24. Been in construction 26 years...

Sounds like a pony wall to me too. About four and a half feet high? Sometimes with a crown on top?

[dweller]

5. abutment

google it

✌🏼

[silverweb]

7. Just did.

These will not support an arch or anything else, though. Are they still abutments?

[dweller]

11. sounds like a bump out

there is no ornamentation with a bump out, just framing and drywall,
baseboard and whatever at the ceiling

✌🏼

[silverweb]

12. Not quite.

From what I can see, a bump-out is for the purpose of creating more space. These aren't.

[Lochloosa]

10. Common Wall or Division Wall

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/division%20wall

[silverweb]

14. Not quite.

[silverweb]

13. GOT IT!

At least, I think this is the best description: a wing wall. The demarcation of different spaces without actually separating them is the purpose.

Here's an example of multiple wing walls defining space in a tiny house:


I'm looking at the first one on the left as the best example of what I'm talking about. Wing wall, right?

[Lochloosa]

16. That works

[silverweb]

17. Yes?

So if I wrote in a description to a contractor that I wanted an 18" to 24" wing wall, ceiling to floor, on either side of the great room, 10 feet from the patio end, he'd know what I'm talking about?

[Lochloosa]

18. Yes. I would understand it.

[silverweb]

19. Awesome!

Thank you!

[csziggy]

20. Knee wall was what my architect called it

But a knee wall is usually short, maybe with a column at the end. I needed full height for the furniture I have so my walls go to the ceiling.

Mine define the entrance:

|_____|_/ _|______|

[silverweb]

23. Ah, yes.

I can see a number of uses for these walls.

[abqtommy]

21. Be careful about walls in your home and what to do with them. Many walls are supporting walls

and we mess with them at our peril...

[silverweb]

22. Absolutely.

This is for an addition and they won't be bearing any weight at all.