How to find the studs behind plasterboard wall?

ando

Guys, is there any specific tools or method to find the studs behind a plasterboard wall? I want to put up a 50inch tv but I dont have the confidence in the plasterboard plugs that I have. Screwing/bolting directly into the studs is probably better, but I have no way of finding the studs behind the wall??

swampgas

Google stud finder. Something like shown here. https://youtu.be/zLiAUFUenHk

Hooked

I use a cheap ish stud finder that I got in screwfix. Bosch brand.

Now... I say ‘stud finder’ but this is more a finder of metal and beeps for live electrical current.

Finding the studs is only part of the job. You also don’t want to pierce or damage a service, like gas, water, and leccy!!!

studs are usually 400mm or 16 inches centre to centre. Find one. Makes the next one easier.

personally... I’d use a stud finder to locate the metal ‘screw’ holding the plasterboard slab in place... hence finding the stud. I’d carefully sink a thin nail to see if it bites the stud or punches through into thin air.

but I would also always check for signs of a service. Even without a stud finder. I.e. Do you have a socket or rad on that wall?

Sockets would usually have the cable fed vertically, so make sure none are ‘in-line’ with your holes.

Hope this helps

Hooked

Just to add. Here’s my go-to device:

but a hammer and 1.5inch thin nail can be just as effective.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/bosch-truvo-digital-detector/8426T?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwZDPy7CV9wIVQ-rtCh3G-An7EAQYAyABEgLg0vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

RainInSummer

If you're ok with a pilot hole you could drill a small hole in the centre of where the TV will go. Then thread a coat hanger wire in until you hit the first stud. Measure that and then you know where all the rest are as they are usually on 16" centers.

Fill the little hole afterwards.

DublinDilbert

Get a few good strong magnets, perfect for this task. Slide them across the wall and they will stick in the location where the nails/screws are located. You can then leave the magnet there and with another identify the next stud. This will help you map out where things are in the wall without making any marks etc.

olestoepoke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929482#Comment_118929482

400mm is just under 16" I'm guessing thats a typo on your part

olestoepoke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929497#Comment_118929497

Studs are almost always on 16" centres not 18

Akrasia

Magnets are the easiest and funnest way

Hooked

My bad - typing in bed this morning - yep, 400mm or 16 inches... "usually"

whatchagonnado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058241814/how-to-find-the-studs-behind-plasterboard-wall

I have a 40" Samsung Frame on 6 plaster board bolts - it's still hanging there 14 months later. I believe the TV is 10kg.

I had to do that because the stud finder picked up a wooden stud in the middle of the wall which I wanted to go into, but turned out to be metal. I didn't trust myself or the drill to get through the metal.

Stud finders can be hit and miss. If you can afford it call a 'bloke'. Less hassle.

keithb93

I used this stud finder off Amazon, worked perfectly when I hung my 50"

https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-StudBuddy-Magnetic-Stud-Finder/dp/B00E4690X4/ref=sr_1_11?crid=M0KVPR3E7RIM&keywords=stud+finder&qid=1650015263&sprefix=stud+finder%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-11

awec

The stud detector tools are ok, but I find they can give false positives and I usually need to go over an area a couple of times just to be sure.

Maybe I have a dodgy one, but there's been plenty of times it's told me there's a stud only for me to screw in and the hit nothing.

mick121

mick121

Look for nails in the skirting boards,this is a good indication of where the studs are.

RainInSummer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929694#Comment_118929694

Ah, apologies, I have edited to reflect.

olestoepoke

A decent length finish nail, hammer it into the wall to find the studs. It'll be behind the TV anyway. Get some polly filler and patch and paint the small holes after. When you find the stud use your level to mark a line down. If you can measure from a door or a corner that will give you an approximation of where to begin your search. For example you could measure 16...32....48...64 off the architrave or the corner of the room, won't be accurate but it should put you close enough to start searching with the finish nail.

size5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929673#Comment_118929673

Got a devices for €5 from a neighbour. Small rectangle block with two magnets on it, sweep it over the wall, you hear a little click when magnets find the screw head, then look for another one vertical just to be sure. Hasn't failed me yet

remoteboy

Just spotted this thread and hoping I could get some tips. Cant find any studs in the upstairs back bedroom on the side wall of the house. I have a stud finder which works great on every other wall, just not this one. I looked at the skirting boards and there are no nails in them.

I’ve drilled seven small holes about an inch apart each in an attempt to find something. No luck yet. Before I make absolute sh*te of the wall I have a stupid question - is it possible there’s no studs in this wall? Or that they don’t fun the full height of the wall. I’m guessing not but figure it’s worth asking.

Feisar

Dot and dab maybe?

remoteboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120004916#Comment_120004916

I did wonder about that but when I drill through the wall I can detect the rear wall about 3 inches behind the plasterboard.

im trying to mount a big TV and need to find something better than plasterboard to attach it to.

MicktheMan

If you know anyone with a thermal imaging camera you first run a hair dryer over the wall area for a few minutes, wait 5 to 10 minutes and then view the wall with the camera. This will show exactly what's where.

Note, this won't work though if insulated plasterboard was used.

remoteboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005282#Comment_120005282

great idea. Sadly it’s definitely insulated plasterboard. I think I’m just going to grab this

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/rawlplug-hollow-wall-anchor-setting-tool-kit/903kk

The Continental Op

There was a discussion on these a while back

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GeeFix-Plasterboard-Cavity-Fixings-Anchors/dp/B0196MJM8S

They seem to be the strongest fixings you'll get for plasterboard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeFyQS2NGVM

remoteboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120005604#Comment_120005604

Oh that’s a great idea. Very nice.

The Continental Op

Check if those are OK for insulated plasterboard.

The other option is to screw into the wall behind with these type of fixings.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corefix-TV-Fixing-Kit-Fixings/dp/B082WF23TY

And again a video :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx90VadXSXA

remoteboy

So unfortunately the geefix won’t work. Not enough space to get it in behind the plasterboard (only around 20mm to play with) plus not sure it would work properly on the insulated board anyway. There’s actually a fair amount of insulation behind the plasterboard. I reckon 50mm of insulation and then a 20mm garment before you hit the brick.

The corefix looks good but just worried there wouldn’t be enough of it in the brickwork - the plugs are 100mm, so only 30mm of that would be in the actual wall. The metal core wouldn’t bridge the gap either.

Whatwicklow

Knock a hole with a hammer central to where your mounting the TV, poke something in to the left and right to locate the nearest stud. Install fixings, hang TV.

Hanging TV covers 'explority' work 😁

remoteboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016118#Comment_120016118

No studs unfortunately. It’s dip and dab.

The Continental Op

You can get longer corefix https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corefix-PLUS30-bracket-Plasterboard-Fixing/dp/B07B3X2PY4/

Actually screwfix work out cheaper https://www.screwfix.ie/p/corefix-120-cfx004p-heavy-duty-dot-dab-wall-fixings-10-x-120mm-4-pack/334rg

Edit> For 70mm before you hit the wall even 120mm corefix are a bit short.

What I have done in the past is use 160mm frame fixers and then cut a length of metal tubing to fit over each frame fixer as a spacer washer so you tighten up against the washer not the plasterboard. Cut the tube half a mm to short so you pull a bit into the plasterboard.

Akrasia

Strong enough magnets will find the nails. Nails are in the studs.

If you can find the nails you can work out where the studs are

Akrasia

Magnets will literally stick to the nails so you can make a little map on the wall with some strong magnets

OneEightSeven

Nowadays, chippies will use screws to erect plasterboards because nails move, leaving nail pops in the plaster running up and down the studding. I used these nail pops to mount my TV and mirror.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016258#Comment_120016258

Its not uncommon to have no studs. I've been on site and seen that insulated plasterboard installed and I've never seen it go on to studs just "glued" straight on the wall.

The Continental Op

This is another method a modern way of my cutting bits of pipe as spacers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DGGUbbbBZI

The spacers he uses are available in screwfix https://www.screwfix.ie/search?search=space+plugs

remoteboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016320#Comment_120016320

Yep. That’s my situation alright.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016349#Comment_120016349

Then either you fix to the plasterboard or you fix through the plasterboard.

The issue with fixing through the plasterboard is that you don't want the poorly supported length of screw that goes through the plasterboard, the insulation and then the void space to sag and you don't want to tighten any fixing and crush the plasterboard.

The answer if the coreplugs are too short is the spacers either the plastic ones in the video or your own cut out of tubing.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929694#Comment_118929694

In the 60’s and 70’s - 56 “ slabs were installed with studs and ceiling joists at 14” c/cs.

Aldo to save the cost in roof trussed rafters, some roofs were constructed with the truss rafters at 18” c/cs,

The Continental Op

These turned up as a suggested buy on my Amazon home page, designed for hanging stuff on external insulation but might be of use internally. The load information if you go to the Fisher website is around 50-100kg (0.5 -1kN) in brick or concrete which is probably a pull out force rather than a vertical loading, but I'd have no worries with a 30kg flat screen mounted flat on the wall with 4 of them. Not so sure of any fixings with some of the mad adjustable mounts that massively increase the load (leverage) when the screen is tipped and turned away from the wall. There isn't any support for the bolt but they are meaty enough and when correctly installed the depth of the fixing is fixed so you can crush the insulation or plasterboard.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fischer-45682-Thermax-Stand-Off-Installation/dp/B001L5SLKE/

The listing says 2 Piece but the questions indicate you get a box of 20.

remoteboy

Well for better or worse she’s up on the wall. I used the spaceplugs in the end. Thanks everyone for the help and advice. Hope you all have a great Christmas.