It sometimes is possible to find a stud by removing the cover of the electrical box and checking behind the opening in the wall covering. Switches and outlets generally are attached to studs or other structural members. Because standard stud finders detect a change in density inside the wall, they dont work on lath and plaster the density inside these walls is not constant enough. (In Scotland, they even used horsehair) If metal mesh was used, even metal scanners may not find the stud. Mesh is also used to help secure the plaster to the lath in some instances. Nails or unfinished gypsum-board joints, indicating the presence of a stud, sometimes are visible. Prior to the 1950s, most walls were built using a combination of vertical studs, horizontal wooden beams called laths and plaster seams. A MultiScanner wall scanner with metal-finding capabilities or one of our dedicated metal scanners may be used to locate nails fastening wood lath to the studs.
In homes with deep baseboards, studs sometimes can be located by removing a section of baseboard. In some cases the light-and-shadow effect will reveal a waviness in which the studs or joists will stand out like ribs.
Shine the light at a slight angle so it plays along the surface of the wall or ceiling. Darken the room and hold a flashlight or other bright light close to the wall or ceiling at one end of the room. Mistakes can be corrected with a little spackling compound. It's best to drill the holes fairly close to the floor, where they are not so visible. If hollow space greets the bit, move the drill laterally a little and try again. If the bit strikes solid wood after penetrating the covering of the wall, a stud or joist has been found. A 1/16-inch bit, or even 1/32-inch bit, is adequate. Each model varies slightly, but generally speaking, you place the stud finder on the wall, hold down a power button until the device beeps this. The easiest and most common method of locating studs within a wall is to use an electronic stud finder. This system can be used in conjunction with thump-and-listen or a magnetic or electronic finder.ĭrill a very small hole in the wall or ceiling in the area where a stud or joist is believed to be located. Here are four ways to find studs hidden in almost any wall: 1. The solid area contains the stud or joist. This system consists of thumping the surface with the knuckles, the handle of a screwdriver or a small mallet, and listening for the difference in sound between solid and hollow areas. The magnet will react as quickly to an iron water pipe as it will to nails, and thick coverings such as plaster reduce the sensitivity of the magnet. Magnetic stud finders are useful but have limitations. Theoretically, a magnetic finder finds studs by pinpointing the location of nails used to attach studs to the horizontal plates above and below them or by detecting nails used to attach gypsum-board panels to the studs. The magnet reacts when the tool is moved over concealed nails or other ferrous metal. This tool usually sells for less than $5 and consists of a small, swiveling magnet that also serves as a pointer.