Troubling find stud when putting in new baseboards
netrate
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I purchased the Stanely S100 Stud Finder and it does not seem to work. I have drilled holes here and there when the stud finder says so and alas, nothing.
I have also tried the 16 inch and 24 inch spacing on the wall. And some of the studs are there, but there is a large gap on 1/2 of the wall where there appears to be no stud.
In the past, they must have put in a new floor, but did not put in a new 2X4 horizontally, and therefore the flooring stud (the one that runs parallel to the floor) is almost buried.
I am going to try the magnet next, but the house is from the 60’s, so I am not sure if they used nails in plaster or not. Any suggestions?
Replies
If this is the electronic style, I've never had much trouble with them, when working through regular drywall. You do want to use the unit up some distance from the floor, to avoid any clutter, and it's best to find 2-3 studs and make sure the spacing "makes sense" before trusting a reading.
Note that the unit won't work with foil-backed drywall, which was used in a few homes in the 70s and 80s (and maybe still). And if you have plaster on lath then it's going to be quite a bit harder to get a good reading. Plaster on rock lath or blueboard should be a bit easier, though not as easy as drywall.
oh man
There's usually a stud on either side of a window and door (usually 2 nailed together-3")
there's usually one on one side or the other of an outlet or switch box.
I tap on the walls, different sound (solid) when at or near a stud.
Most spacing is as you mentioned-16", while some is 24". Find one on the side of an outlet or switch box-pull the 16 inch centers from that one-both ways.
Doors and windows are just there-they need not be on usual stud layout.
Cut the head off of an 8d finish nail. Chuck that up in a drill and hunt for it (just below the top of the baseboard you're using. Find one-pull layout off that (ITS CENTER) and then drill for those (to confirm they're there.
Use PL Premium glue blobs when nothing is there to significantly able to nail to.
Magnet-Rare Earth works-Google-Studthud. A fellow stopped by here and said he was producing them-if on the market-get one-they work.