How do you know where the wood is behind a wall?

Question

I'm trying to hang up a framed picture in my room but I have no idea where the wood is behind the wall? Is it called a stud or no? I don't want to make little holes all over my wall so how do I find out?

Answer 1

buy a stud finder at your local hardware store. fairly cheap

Answer 2

There are several ways to locate your stud in the wall. The best is to purchase a stud finder at the hardware store. I have had pretty good success with these. Second is the old sounding method. By lightly tapping on the wall, you will hear a different sound when you are near the stud (not as hollow). You can also look for the electrical outlet if you happen to be near that stud. Finally, if you use one of the above methods to narrow down the location of the stud, you can use a small nail to hammer through the drywall and (hopefully) hit the stud. If your close to where your going to hang the picture, then the picture should hide any holes you put in the wall around the stud.

Answer 3

A stud finder is supposed to work, but may not always find the stud. If the wall is plaster and has a metal or wooden lath behind it, electronic stud finders have trouble locating the studs.

There are several alternatives to finding a stud if a stud finder doesn't work or if you don't have one.

1. Knock along the wall with your finger. If you hear the sound go from a hollow to a solid one, there's probably a stud behind it.

2. If the wall is made of sheetrock, look for telltale signs of a stud. Sheetrock is nailed or screwed to the studs. Some times they are visible as they pop out. Look closely at the wall for a popped nail or screw. If you find several in a line, there's a stud behind it.

3. The joints of sheetrock are often visible as a difference in texture or a raised line running up and down. Joints fall on a stud.

4. Electrical outlets and switches are mounted to a stud. If you see one on the wall, there's a stud either to the right or left of it. If you take the switch plate off and peek inside, you can often see part of the stud. Remeber, though, that there is live electricity inside, so shut off the power before going in. Similarly, wherever there is an outlet on a stud, there's wiring running by it. If you don't estimate the center of that stud accurately, you can hit the wire. Again, turn off the electricity before doing so.

5. Finally, if all else fails, drill a hole 1/4 - 1/2" in the area where you want to mount the picture. Take a wire coat hanger bent into an L with a lead of a couple of inches. Push the wire into the hole and feel toward the right and left for a stud. Mark how far the wire has gone.

Remeber that don't want to mess up the facing wall, you can always look on the other side for a stud. For example if the wall you're hanging the picture separates a room from a closet, you can drill holes all you want inside the closet to find the stud. Once you find it, you can measure and locate it on the other side.

Also remember that you just need to find one stud anywhere along the wall. Studs are placed either 16" or 24" on center. If you find one, you can measure in these increments to find another one where you want it.

Answer 4

I agree with the stud finder method but if you go that way, you may also want to consider buying one that detects electrical wiring also. Very well worth the money depending on the amount of work you are doing.

If your home is older, there is no guarantee the studs are 16 inches on center so finding one and measuring 16 inches in that situation does not always work.

Another good way to locate them is to look at the baseboard to see where it has been nailed to the wall and you will almost always find the nails are driven into a stud.

Answer 5

Really easy...

Obviously, everyone is goanna say go get a stud finder, costing anywhere from $15 to $60. They really are good thing to have handy. But, if you want, you can also do this, tap on your wall. The hollow sound will tell you there is no stud... Bong Bong Bong.... where as where a stud is located at, you'd hear a slight Bing Bing Bing... The sound is slight, but it is noticeable. Then from there, measure 16 inches to the left or right, and voila... there is another stud.

Oh if you start tapping on the wall, DONT use any sorta hammer. Just use your hand. Trust me on this.

Answer 6

Stud finder. If you want to hang picture where there are no studs than you can use a butterfly screw (a screw with 2 spring loaded arms on either side, found in most hardware stores). Drill a hole where you want picture to hang, insert butterfly (may be called something else) screw into hole, the arms on screw will pop out inside wall, there should be a stopper on the screw to keep it from falling through the hole.

Answer 7

You can buy a stud finder or you can tap the wall gently with a hammer, where there is no stud it will sound hollow when you hit the stud it will be more of a solid thud....best way is with a stud finder then you will know for sure.

Answer 8

also go to a doorway and measure about 14 inches or so from the door frame, and there should be a stud. Before nailing a BIG nail, try using a skinny nail so the hole won't be so big. If the wall is white, immediately put some elmer's glue in the hole for a quick fix.

Answer 9

You can buy a special tool or rent it. It is called a stud finder and it finds the wood braces behind your wall.

Answer 10

yGo to your local hardware store and get an electronic stud finder. The are simple to use and will show you exactly where the wooden studs are behind the wall.