How to Locate Studs in Drywall

To properly install shelves and heavy picture frames on the wall, it is necessary to find a stud. A wall stud is a vertical part of the frame behind your wall material. In many cases, drywall is put on the stud in a process called balloon framing. Although there are a variety of stud finders available on the market, they can be expensive and not altogether accurate. Drywall sometimes tricks stud finders. There is a simple, homemade solution for finding wall studs.

Things You'll Need

• Lamp
• Measuring tape

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Remove the lampshade from a small lamp.

   • 2

     Plug in the lamp near the wall where you want to find the stud.

   • 3

     Hold the exposed bulb 10 to 12 inches away from the wall. Look for signs of nail heads or tape. The stud is located behind the tape or nails.

   • 4

     Measure, using a measuring tape, 16 to 24 inches away from the center of the first stud to find the next stud over.