3 Ways to Find a Wall Stud Without a Stud Finder
We’ve all been there – you have a mirror you want to hang, but 10 holes later, you still haven’t found a stud. Or worse: you hung it, but it pulled out of the wall causing damage to your home and the mirror.
Hanging an object in your home should be a simple project – but if you don’t know how to find a wall stud, then you can’t properly anchor your new TV, shelf, or painting. To find a wall stud, you could buy a stud finder, but not everyone wants another gadget or the time to figure out how to use one.
So instead, here are 3 easy ways to find a wall stud without a stud finder.
What is a wall stud? Why do you need to find one?
The boards used in your home work as the framing for your house and help support the walls. These boards run from floor to ceiling, holding up drywall or lath on the inside and wood sheathing on the outside.
The boards are spaced either 16 to 24 inches apart. The distance will depend on the age of your home, but the standard is 16 inches measured from center to center.
Heavy objects need to be attached to a wall stud since drywall isn’t strong enough to support the weight. Wall studs hold weight better and keep fasteners in, providing better support for that new TV system.
How to find a wall stud
1. Look at where the trim is nailed
Baseboards, chair rails, and crown moulding are all attached to wall studs. When trying to find a wall stud, look at your baseboard to see where it’s nailed. It may be a bit hard to see since the nail hole may be filled in with caulk and painted. But look for a “dimple” in the wood.
When you find a dimple, measure from that point 16 inches on either side. And then check your baseboard again to see if this lines up with another nail.
Measure and mark the locations until you reach the spot for your anchor. If you want to confirm there is a stud, you can hammer a small finishing nail into the wall to check (but depending on where this is, you may need to repair the hole). If you meet resistance, you’ve found the wall stud.
2. Look at light switches or wall outlets
Light switches and wall outlets are usually mounted on one side of a stud. To find out which side is attached to the wall stud, use the “knock” test. Using your knuckles (or gently with a hammer), tap over either side of the switch or outlet. If you hear a solid sound, you’ve found the stud. If you hear a hollow sound, tap the other side.
When you’ve found the stud, measure ¾ inches away from the outlet on the stud side and start measuring at 16-inch intervals.
3. Measure 16 inches from the corner
Start at the corner of the room and start measuring out 16-inch increments to get a general idea of the spacing. But not all rooms are built in numbers divisible by 16, so you may find there is a wall stud that is not 16 inches apart. Try the knock test near the corner to see if you can locate the stud with shorter spacing.
If all else fails, you hire an experienced handyman to do it for you!
At Building Standard, we’ll make sure your expensive TV system or heavy mirror is hung right the first time. We service homes in Miami-Dade and Broward County.