Posted 24 October 2023

Locating Stud in Wall

Hi all builders / joiners etc.

I'm wanting to fit a tv bracket on to a stud wall in a bedroom but I haven't got a stud finder. How easy is it to locate a stud? I've read a few bits on the Internet but all seems a bit vague. Can I measure a certain amount of inches from the corner of the room? Or measure the distance from a radiator to a plug socket?
4222079_1.jpg Thanks, any answers appreciated.
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  1. chrb's avatar
    I just use a magnet
  2. sm9690's avatar
    Unethical method....buy one from amazon and then return it
  3. Mendoza's avatar
    I like your radiator
    Charger1969's avatar
    So do I, I have the same one ;-)
  4. mds1256's avatar
    knock on the wall until it sounds different (less hollow) (edited)
    Kieran_Wildsmith's avatar
    Author
    Tried it, the whole wall sounds the same to me
  5. HappyShopper's avatar
    As says, use a magnet - it will locate the screws used to afix the stud to the wall.

    Once you have located it, the other studs will be, I believe, 400mm either side of it.
    Kieran_Wildsmith's avatar
    Author
    Does it have to be a strong magnet or can it be any fridge magnet?
  6. slimy31's avatar
    Be aware that studs aren't guaranteed. From the 60's they were making walls from two sheets of plasterboard with cardboard waffle between them. It has a brand name of 'paramount board' if you want to Google what it's like. In terms of strength it's great as a wall, but absolutely useless for a TV. It only has studs at the seams, which could be several metres apart (an entire wall could be a single piece).

    Apart from that, I have used a magnet to find stud screws where they exist, although I'd recommend a really strong one. I used a control magnet from a hard drive I'd smashed up!! (edited)
  7. aLV426's avatar
    The radiator in that picture is likely attached to a stud, you could use that as a starting point. Without a stud finder or a magnet it will be just a guess where the next stud is though. Also depending on the weight of the TV you may find a load board beneficial. It's just a scrap piece of board you screw to the wall to help spread the load of the TV (that way there is less risk of the TV mount ripping from the wall)
  8. hubcms's avatar
    Just use toggle bolts.
    Kieran_Wildsmith's avatar
    Author
    Got any recommendations? I've ended up drilling a hole but I've not got the stud
  9. Kieran_Wildsmith's avatar
    Author
    I've tried to determine the wall stud but ended up just drilling straight through the plasterboard. Anyone got recommendations for plasterboard anchors?
    samosa's avatar
    Use Earth magnets to locate where studs are, then drill some MDF between to pillar which will be hidden behind the tv and drill the screws of wall bracket onto the MDF.
  10. Muig1972's avatar
    I'd advise just buying a stud detector. A very handy thing to have- you'll be using it for years.

    My place is full of shelves, coat racks, and bike hangers that have been put up with the help of mine, and none if it has ever fallen down- honest! (edited)
  11. harrythefish's avatar
    I use 2 finders, one inductive to find copper pipes and wiring, the other is magnetic for finding iron or steel studs, its much more accurate than the inductive one. Once you find a stud, I think there's an industry standard spacing (40cm maybe?) between the vertical batons so that's a clue where to look for other stud nails. Got to beware of plastic water pipes behind stud walls these days too. (edited)
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