How to Find Studs in a Garage Without a Stud Finder
A stud is the two-by-four framing piece behind the sheet of drywall that makes up the surface of your wall. Stud finders are electronic devices designed to locate the denser wood behind the drywall, typically in preparation for anchoring something to a wall heavy enough to need the support of the stronger wood. If you do not have a stud finder, you can still locate the studs in your garage wall with a little old-fashioned detective work. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start near a door or window. These are always framed by the two-by-four studs and are a good place to begin.
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Tap your knuckle against the drywall next to the door or window. You hear a somewhat high-pitched "thump," and feel a fairly solid resistance against the tap. This is what a stud sounds and feels like behind drywall.
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Tap several inches away from the door or window frame. You will hear a decidedly lower-pitched "thump" and will also feel less resistance against your tap. This is the sound and feel of empty drywall.
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Tap your way across the wall, listening to the changes in pitch and feeling the changes in resistance as you go. The areas where the pitch is higher and resistance more firm are areas containing studs.
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Tips & Warnings
Studs are generally set at 16 or 24 inches apart, but from each other, not necessarily from the door or window. Once you find the first stud in line, you should be able to locate others by measuring out the distance.
