How to Find Metal Studs in a Wall
Locating a metal stud is the first step in hanging a decoration or starting a renovation project. There are different methods of locating a stud, but one method in particular allows you to locate a stud in a finished wall. Stud finders detect metal behind a finished wall. They are particularly adept at locating metal studs. Knowing where to start the search will speed the process. The first stud generally will be located with half of the width off-center. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Measure the length of the wall.
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2
Divide the measurement by two to find the center of the wall.
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3
Measure out from one corner of the wall, and place a pencil mark at the center of the wall.
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4
Place the 8-inch mark of the tape measure on the center mark. Mark the location on the wall. Extend the tape measure an additional four inches, and place another mark.
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5
Turn on the stud finder. Set it on the wall, three inches to the side of the center mark.
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6
Move the stud finder toward the center mark. If it does not signal a found stud, slide it toward the 8-inch mark you made in Step 4. Continue sliding the stud finder along the wall toward the next mark. Mark the wall when the stud finder identifies a stud.
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7
Move the stud finder away from the mark you placed on the wall in Step 6. Slide it back toward the mark. If the stud finder signals before the mark, place another mark on the wall. If not, move the stud finder to the other side of the first mark. Mark the location of the other signal.
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8
Measure 16 inches from the marks you created in Steps 6 and 7. Slide the stud finder along the wall. If it signals another stud, the studs in your wall are on 16-inch centers. If you do not find a stud, place a mark 24 inches from the first stud location. A signal at 24 inches designates that the studs are on 24-inch centers.
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9
Measure from one corner of the wall to the stud location marked with the stud finder. Write the measurement down for future reference. Measure out from the stud location, a multiple of the center distance that you determined in Step 8 to locate additional studs.
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