Remodeling Guides
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
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.
Rich with architectural details, this Seattle home features knee braces in Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green.
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.
Double gables call for multiple knee braces.
Exposed structural members and trimwork are painted here, while the shingles are left in their natural state.
Knee braces support the front and side gables on this seaside shingle home.
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?
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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 Remodeling Guides