How to find wall stud without finder

When you're putting up shelves or hanging large pictures or mirrors on a wall, it's important to drive the nails or screws into wall studs. The challenge is finding those studs.

What Can I Do Without a Stud Finder?

If you don't have an electronic stud finder, you can locate studs with nothing more than a table lamp. Remove the shade, turn on the lamp and hold the bare bulb 10 to 12 inches away from the wall. Look for the silhouettes of nailheads or drywall tape as the side light skims the surface of the wall; you should find a stud directly behind the nailheads or tape. Then, look for the additional studs nearby.

How Far Apart Are Studs in a Wall?

Look for other studs spaced either 16 or 24 inches on center.

How to find wall stud without finder

Using a stud finder is the quickest and easiest way to find a stud. But, if you don’t have one or are too lazy to find yours (I’m often guilty of this), you can use one of these ways to find a stud.

How to find wall stud without finder

5 Ways to Find a Stud (without a Stud Finder)

1. Measure from an outlet – remove an outlet cover and inspect the outsides of the box. One side will usually be nailed to a stud.

How to find wall stud without finder

Then measure out to the left or right at 16″ intervals. US building code requires wall studs to be spaced at least 16″ on center (meaning the center of the studs.) This will help you locate studs. However, recognize that in locations near doors/windows or openings there may be a stud at less than a 16″ interval.

How to find wall stud without finder

2. Look for popped nails or dimples on the wall – It doesn’t always happen, but in older houses you might see nail pops where the drywall was nailed to a stud. In newer construction this is less likely to happen because screws are used.

3. Look for nails in your baseboard or crown moulding – inspect your crown or baseboard moulding for nails that might indicate where it was attached to a stud.

How to find wall stud without finder

4. Knock on the wall – You should use this method in conjunction with the methods described above. Use your knuckle to knock along the wall horizontally. A stud location will have a higher pitched sound and feel hard against your knuckle. Lack of a stud will have a lower pitch and hollow sound.

5. Use a small pin – Once you think you’ve located the stud, use a small quilter’s pin to verify that you found the stud.

How to find wall stud without finder

If the pin sinks in up to the head, there is no stud there. If the pin sinks in about 3/4″ and then stops, you found the stud.

How to find wall stud without finder

The pin method will save you the hassle of creating a larger hole only to realize that you missed the stud.

Okay, now go find your stud! {snicker, hee hee}

How to find wall stud without finder

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How to find wall stud without finder

October 18, 2014//

https://prettyhandygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/locate-stud.jpg 420 630 Brittany Bailey https://prettyhandygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PHG-logo-tagline-2020-1030x211-R.jpgBrittany Bailey2014-10-18 19:00:002021-07-16 03:07:285 Ways to Find a Stud (without a Stud Finder)

Can I use my phone as a stud finder?

With the evolution of technology, you can find stud finding apps for both iPhone and Android smartphones. They use the phone's magnetometer (the sensor that drives the compass) to detect metal nails or screws behind the drywall.

How do you find a stud in a wall manually?

How to Find a Wall Stud Quickly and Easily.
Locate the nearest light switch or power outlet. ... .
Look for dimples in the wall. ... .
Use windows as a guide. ... .
Tap the wall. ... .
Drill a hole. ... .
Fish around with a wire hanger. ... .
Try a stud finder app. ... .
Or just use a stud finder!.

Can iPhone act as a stud finder?

However, the iPhone's built-in magnetometer does allow apps to locate metal wall studs, nails, screws or any ferromagnetic material—meaning it also won't work on some types of stainless steel. ENR compared 16 stud-finding and metal-detection iOS apps.

How do you find a stud in a old house without a stud finder?

Look for the silhouettes of nailheads or drywall tape as the side light skims the surface of the wall; you should find a stud directly behind the nailheads or tape. Then, look for the additional studs nearby.