knee wall on hardibacker?

[doenute]

Think I know the answer but will ask you folks anyway.

Will be building a knee wall behind an island cabinet run in a Kitchen remodel. Knee wall will be parallel to joists. Knee wall will just about cut the kitchen in half--other half is the "eat in" part of the kitchen area and will be a contiguous tile run, other than the wall itself.

Can this knee wall be build on top of the Hardi installation after everything is leveled and as a last step before tile?

I'm thinking not as Hardi is not supposed to be tied to joists, and I plan on trying to hit a joist for the knee wall.

Any thoughts on this one?

Thanks
Bill

[Davestone]

I'll be honest,it's simple to lay the wall out and use an angle grinder to cut out the Hardi and chisel it out.

[Houston Remodeler]

It sure can as long as its tied into the cabinets. Otherwise, it would need to be tied into the joists. If the pony wall just sets atop the floor, (either plywood or hardie) it will wiggle when you look at it. It needs to be attached to something.