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Renovation Detail: The Knee Brace
Playing a supporting role in architecture but earning attention in their own right, knee braces are a favorite on Craftsman home exteriors
Houzz Contributor. I'm an interior designer, homeowner and founding blogger of the before + after super-site, http://www.raenovate.com/.
Houzz Contributor. I'm an interior designer, homeowner and founding blogger... More »
As a design enthusiast, I love details that are heavy on form and function. The triangular knee brace perfectly embodies both. A knee brace (also referred to as a gable or eave bracket) is a diagonal support placed between two right-angle planes to strengthen their connection. You'll often find knee braces on Craftsman homes with gable roofs. The gable end of a roof typically has eaves formed by lookouts; these eaves happen to be the perfect location for knee braces.
| Knee braces can be used in applications other than gables — porticoes, for instance. |
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by FGY Architects
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| This home boasts many Craftsman characteristics, such as a knee wall railing, exposed rafters, square tapered columns and, of course, knee braces aplenty. |
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| Rich with architectural details, this Seattle home features knee braces in Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green. |
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| Both this pool house and the main residence feature clipped-gable roofs with embellished knee braces. |
| Knee braces are more than appropriate on this family farmhouse in Skagit Valley, Washington. |
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| Double gables call for multiple knee braces. |
by Brooks Ballard
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Exposed structural members and trimwork are painted here, while the shingles are left in their natural state.
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Knee braces support the front and side gables on this seaside shingle home.
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| Painted in a contrasting charcoal color, the pedestals and knee braces pop against this home's light gray exterior. Tell us: How do you refer to a knee brace? Is it a gable bracket or an eave brace or something else entirely? See more Renovation Details |
Comments
sdorton Would gable brackets in the dormers of a cape cod house work with the cape cod style?
12 months ago · Like
Rachel Grace @sdorton YES, certainly! As long as the brackets work proportionally with the size of your Cape's dormers I think it would be a lovely addition.
12 months ago · Like
karenjk Great article and perfect timing for my project! Do you know of any resources that sell ready made brackets?
12 months ago · Like
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Rachel Grace @karenjk Harvest Timber sells them and I've found that their website is very comprehensive! http://www.harvest-timber.com/HarvestTimber/pages/EaveBrace.html
12 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on May 22, 2012.
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