How do I locate the 2 by 4's behind the wall withought busting the wall?
2006-12-04 08:04:58 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
using a stud finder is the best way to find a stud. You can buy one at a any renovation center and there not that expensive or hard to use. Get one it's a good investment.
2006-12-04 12:47:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a few ways of doing it. You can first try using one of those stud sensors that are sold at the local home improvement center. It will give you a pretty good idea of where each edge of the stud is located. You can then measure 1 3/4" between them and find the center of the stud that way. You can also try rapping on the wall with your knuckle (my father's method). When you hit a stud, it will sound solid as opposed to hollow when you are hitting over a wall cavity. A third way is to use a small finishing tail and the knuckle method. Once you think you've found the stud, you can tap the finishing nail in. If it hits something solid, you know you hit a stud and you can figure out where the center is from there. The drawback is that you're putting holes in the wall. Best bet is to go with the stud sensor. Less damage to the walls and it will be the easiest way to find the stud.
2006-12-04 16:13:03 · answer #2 · answered by joem_1701 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the above are right. Here is how I personally do it. Tap on the wall with a hammer until it doesn't sound hollow...then I take a small nail (nail should be at least over an inch - just long enough to go through the dry wall and into the stud)...then I tap the nail until it goes through the drywall and (hopefully) into the stud. Don't drive the nail any further than you need to just far enough to find the stud. Most drywall is half inch thick. If it becomes real easy to tap in then you missed the stud. Move a few inches to one side or another and try again.
NOTE: sometimes you miss and you have to either patch the little nail marks by using this method. It's cheaper than a stud finder and 9 out of 10 times I hit the stud on the first try.
2006-12-04 21:31:53 · answer #3 · answered by DAVER 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can locate 2x4s in many ways. Here are a few:
-Purchase and use a stud finder (easiest way).
-Go along the wall and tap. When you hear a hollow sound
change to a solid and deep sound, that is a stud.
-Another easy trick is to take a flashlight, cut the lights out and
close the blinds. Then go to the corner and shine the flashlight
parallel to the wall down the wall. You will be amazed at what
you can find.
If these don't work, you can always use an anchor if you want to hhang something.
Hope this solves your problem.
2006-12-04 16:15:41 · answer #4 · answered by AnswersGuru 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a licensed contractor in Arkansas. there are several ways to do this. the best way is with a stud finder diffrent ones work diffrent ways and some take practice to get them right. Other ways are with a flashlight, turn the lights down los and hold it close to the wall you can sometimes see the head of nails or a place where the wall sticks out further where two peices of drywall meet.
In modern homes the studs are either 16 or 24 inches apart Usually 16.
Another way is to remove a baseboard and look at the bottom of the drywall you can usually see the nails in the studs there or a joint that wasn't finished. put the end of your tape there and start measuring. By the way there are red marks on most tapes every 16 inches apart.
2006-12-04 20:28:55 · answer #5 · answered by tiger_grrrr 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use the side your fist balled up. Gently pound on the wall and listen for hollow sounds. Also feel for a more solid part of the wall. Studs are generally placed at 16" on center. Older homes have them at 24" on center. so once you find one, finding the others are not that difficult.
Another thing you can do in an older home is to look for the nail heads to start coming out of the drywall.
2006-12-04 16:15:44 · answer #6 · answered by norman j 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
3 Different ways--
1-Tap on wall listen for solid sound.
2. Get a stud finder run it along wall.
3. Measure 16 inches from corner, and then every 16 inches from there, you should find a stud.
2006-12-04 16:13:52 · answer #7 · answered by trollwzrd 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
well go down to wal-mart or any hardware store and get a stud finder, they sell those thing's don't you know, or you can measure over from a corner about 15" and start knocking nails through the wall moving in 1" increment's till you hit a stud, then measure from that stud in 16" increments till you get close to where you are going do what ever it is you are doing and nail nails through the wall till you find the stud you need...jack
2006-12-05 00:09:05 · answer #8 · answered by jack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a stud finder for under $10. or tap on the wall to hear for density.
2006-12-05 17:26:16 · answer #9 · answered by Eric S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u can use a stud finder, some are electric (ultrasound maybe), others are magnetic, they find the screws in the studs, or u can use a magnet for the same purpose, but that's kinda difficult
2006-12-04 16:10:11 · answer #10 · answered by Stephan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋