I'm trying to hang a TV in my apartment, but I'm having a really tough time figuring out where the studs are. The stud finder keeps giving me strange readings, indicating studs in odd places that aren't even spaced out correctly. Sometimes it says there's no stud, and then on another pass, it shows one! It also keeps warning me about wires. After some frustration, my husband thought he found two studs, but when we drilled our pilot holes, we just went through the drywall with no studs at all! I'm feeling stuck here and thinking about hiring someone to help us out. Any advice you can share? Thanks!
4 Answers
No worries! Just a tip, when using a stud finder, start from a spot where you know there isn’t a stud and move back and forth slowly. If that doesn’t work, a strong magnet can help you find nails or screws in the studs. You can also try the knock method; it sounds a bit hollow over big spaces but gets sharper closer to the stud. If you're still having trouble, you can bend a wire coat hanger into an L shape and fish it through your pilot hole – if it hits something, you’re close! Good luck!
If stud finders aren’t doing it for you, skip it and grab some good neodymium magnets. Or if you have an old hard drive lying around, you can use the magnets from it too. Much more reliable!
You might want to consider getting a better quality stud finder if yours is acting up. Meanwhile, check for slight lines or divots on the drywall where screws might be. If you knock on the wall, you should hear a more solid sound when you're over a stud. Try popping off a couple of outlet covers to see if there are any studs nearby. When you think you’ve found a stud, drill a tiny hole first to confirm. If it doesn't hit something solid, adjust a bit to feel around until you find one. It'll save you a lot of trouble and small holes are way easier to fix! Good luck!
I love the tiny drill bit tip! I can't believe I missed that. I ended up grabbing one that the manual suggested. Definitely going to try that next time. Also, I found a more expensive stud finder online that had great reviews, so I might grab that one!
Honestly, stud finders haven't worked well for me either. I usually just tap lightly on the wall with a hammer and listen for the difference in sound. You'll notice a higher pitch where the stud is. Give it a try!
Oh, there’s another method! You could check behind an electrical box to see if it’s attached to a stud. Just look for screws on the outside of the box—they usually indicate a stud nearby. If you need to get compound anyway, it wouldn't hurt to head over to the electrical section for a quick look.