Do plaster walls have studs?

Question

Do I need to buy a stud finder?

Answer 1

Most likely it is drywall. Studs may be 2x4's 16 or 24 inch on center. Studfinders are inexpensive but not totally reliable. If they help you find the stud, grea. If not you'll have to hunt with a nail. Metal 2x4's may also be used but not likely

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Answer 2

Most houses do. The exception MIGHT be ones that are built out of concrete blocks or poured concrete. Those are incredibly rare. Even houses with a solid brick exterior have wooden stud walls.

To the best of my knowlege, they have not used wood lath for many decades. Instead, they used a board for the lath that looks something like drywall. It is totally different than drywall though. Some people are telling you it is drywall and that is totally incorrect.

A plaster wall is very thick and rigid, not like drywall. I have never been able to knock on it and find the studs. I have always had to use a stud finder. It is not even easy to use the stud finder, you will get a lot of false readings, both hits and misses.

One thing that helps is to locate where you think the stud is. Locate again several feet above that point and below it. Put a level or plumb line vertically to connect those points. You will find one of the possible points that matches all the way from top to bottom. That is the stud.

You can then measure every 16 inches both ways and use that as the approximate location of the next stud. They are definatly not going to be every 16 inches. They sometimes put one in a place that you would not have guessed.

If you could see inside the wall, you would see why they did it, but you will just have to accept the fact that they did it without determining why. Often times there is no stud where there should be. No apparent reason, it just is. Don't assume, measure and locate. Once I accepted that fact, it became a lot easier for me.

Plaster is not drywall. There are several posts asking about specific differences. Many of the answers are trying to say they are the same thing. They are totally different, in almost every way.

Answer 3

Stud Finder Plaster Walls

Answer 4

Congratulations on having the intelligence to live in a house with real plaster walls. If it a frame house, one built of wood, the walls will have studs in them. In some older houses of solid brick construction, you will find that the plaster is right on the brick.
A stud finder would not be a bad idea, but get one of the ones with adjustable sensitivity. Plaster walls can vary in thickness enough to fool a pre-set stud finder. You can calibrate your stud finder by placing it where you know there isnt any stud, and setting it so the indicator just goes off. Test your setting by passing the finder over an area you know has wood behind the plaster, such as next to a window or a door.
Be prepared to reset your setting if you notice it indicating no studs anywhere, or if it is indicating the wall is one big solid stud.
Stud spacing is normally 16" on center, but in some older houses I have seen spacing as close as 12".
Keep those plaaster walls in your house. If any "expert" tells you to tear it all out and put in drywall, apply the bottom of your foot vigorously to their posterior in such a manner that they are propelled a safe distance from your house. You dont want such a clown to touch your castle at all. Plaster is superior to drywall in every way except one-drywall is cheaper to put in. This is why it is used by typical slam and run developers. Plaster is better for strength, fire resistance and noise control.
I wish you well on your home improvement adventures!

Answer 5

Most probally. However, there is a chance that the plaster is installed over wood lathe which are thin pieces of wood attached to the studs with small spaces between the pieces. If this is the case, looking for the stud with a stud finder would be useless. Try and find an inconspicuous place to drill a small hole and try fishing for a stud with a small piece of wire.

Answer 6

Yes! Before they invention of gyproc or sheet roc as some call it, they finished walls with lap and plaster. But, wal framing still has to have studs! The problem with using a stud finder is that the lap boards, interfere with the signal. Usually the studs will be every 16 inches.

Answer 7

Most plaster walls have wood lath over studs. The lath can cause problems with stud finders. Look for a model that will sense metal as well as wood and use it to find the nails that attach the lath to the studs. I have done it many time to attach drywall over plaster walls

Answer 8

Plaster walls have studs, then lathe to hold the plaster, then the plaster is coated on the lathe. Unless you have a really good ear, my money is on the stud finder.

Why do you need a stud? They now have "Hercules Hooks" that may save you the trouble. It makes a very small hole and spreads out the stress on the wall. They are easy to install and easy to remove. Our Wal-mart has them for about $15 for 20 hooks. You might give them a look over and see if they will fit your needs.

Answer 9

Yes plaster walls need studs behind it to anchor them up.

Answer 10

it is lath and plaster all houses constructed have supports every 16 in, you can measure from the known site of the support and check around the 16in mark you are trying to nail into this isn't exact but should be close and if you tap gently on the wall you can hear a different sound where the support will be(more solid)