I am trying to hang shelves. My stud finder works on every wall except the wall I'm trying to hang the shelves on. Could there be electrical wiring in that wall?
2007-07-11 04:29:13 · 7 answers · asked by jsprite 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Could be wiring, but has no bearing.
Measure from a corner every 16 inches. There should be a stud at these intervals, on center.
Tap the wall at those points and tap elswhere. You should hear a solid sound on the studs.
2007-07-11 04:33:39 · answer #1 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the depth of this wall has changed from the other walls you checked. Can it be recalibrated on this wall ?
The norm for studs is 16" on center, and you probably have a stud on the ends of the wall. I'd try the "tapping" method, we used to use that before stud finders.
Then take a very small finish nail and tap it in slightly - about half way. If a stud is in there you will feel it, if you do not feel it then there is none there obviously.
Also, can you look over that wall very carefully and see if you can see any nail holes or the actual nail head? Maybe with a magnet you can find the nails
( support the magnet in the palm of your hand but against the wall. Slide your hand along the wall until the magnet is attracted to the wall - this has to be a nail head).
2007-07-11 05:37:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One added note, there should be a stud next to any electrical outlets or switches on that wall. The stud will be just to the right or left of the electrical outlet or switch (the electrical box behind the wall is screwed to the stud for support).
You could try the "every 16 inches" trick from the left or right of the outlet. If you are handy, you can remove the cover from the outlet and look to see which side the stud is on. You can use a flashlight to look for the screws or nails, but DO NOT touch or poke anything inside of the box. Put the cover back on when you are done. You will probably find that there is an additional layer of drywall, or solid foam insulation in the wall that is messing with your stud finder.
2007-07-11 04:54:05 · answer #3 · answered by Lorax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try the stud finder at different levels on the wall. Someone MAY have installed a backerboard in the wall for future hanging of pictures or shelves and that is what you are seeing. The electrical outlet idea is also a good one.
2007-07-11 05:36:17 · answer #4 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be but the stud finder should still work..... your studs should be on 151/2 to16 inch centers ao what i would do is mes. from the corner of the wall out and use a small nail to see if you can find a stud the mes. anuther 15 1/2 to 16 inchs to see where your studs are ohh and if theres an elec.outlet it will be hooked to a stud use the small nail to find out witch side
2007-07-11 08:34:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Between the studs, there are crossbars called "noggins". You could screw the shelf to a noggins, but do NOT try fitting a shelf to just one stud, you are asking for it to collapse if you do I'm afraid. The only other thing I can think of that might help you are the metal shelves that attach to the wall at just one place and are meant for putting VCRs or TVs on. Might one of those be of some help as an alternative possibility?
2016-04-01 09:03:24 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
never used a stud finder in my life...use the proper screw device to hold the bracket if you dont find a stud
2007-07-11 06:54:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋