There are a variety of methods for finding the studs in your walls, and the one you choose will depend on your budget and timeline.Ĭhecking the Architrave and the Roof Space for Studs In order to build a bookcase or hang artwork on a plaster wall, you'll need to locate a stud in the wall. As opposed to sensing hardness, it locates the nails that hold the laths to the studs. If you've just moved into a historic property and your stud finder isn't doing the job, you might want to look into getting a metal scanner instead. Therefore, stud finders will not be able to do their duty, which is to detect a change in the wall's density, if the wall is covered in lath and plaster. In contrast to the fluid density of drywall, plaster walls vibrate on the wall's reverse surface. Picture this: you have a wall made completely of plasterboard, and you need to hang a frame weighing fifty pounds. The studs in your walls, which can be made of metal or wood, are what hold up the structure of your home. Since the material in question is dense throughout, a regular stud finder won't be able to pick up on any variations in density.Īnything you want to hang on the wall, whether it weighs half a pound or fifty, should be fastened to a stud. Older houses have a framework made of plaster, horizontal wood studs, and vertical wood beams. Understanding why these walls are so difficult to overcome requires first considering their construction. Some walls, despite their smooth exterior, hide an unequal composition of wood (lath) and plaster, with different densities in the plaster, lath, and studs. The uneven density of lath and plaster prevents standard stud finders from detecting a change in density, which is how they are supposed to work. Most of the walls date back to before 1950 and are constructed of horizontal laths of hardwood, vertical studs, and plaster seams. How to Identify and Locate Wall Studs When Working with Plaster
The next time you need to hang something in your old house, try using these tried-and-true methods for locating studs in plaster walls. To put it bluntly, it's not worth your time. Inexpensive alternative methods exist, so there's no need to buy a stud finder. Heavy items, such as large mirrors and TVs, require knowledge of how to locate studs in a plaster wall if you plan to hang them. If the path is made of metal wire rather than the more conventional wood, a stud finder will also provide incorrect readings.Īlmost anything small enough to be screwed into wood lath can be mounted on a wall securely. Plaster can be applied in a wide variety of densities and thicknesses. The plaster may be too thick or dense for regular stud finders to penetrate. Dry wall (wet wall - to avoid being confused with the similarly named "wet wall" that house plumbing). Traditional home wall finishing involved trowel-applied plaster over just a lath substrate (, like the way stucco is put up). Find out how to detect studs in a plaster wall if you want to hang anything heavier than 10-15 lbs, such extra-large mirrors and televisions. Any object that can be securely fastened into wood lath can be placed on a wall.
It is possible that you already know that a stud finder may not work on the lath walls and old plaster in your home. But some homes built before the 1970s may still have plaster walls.įinding studs in plaster walls can be a tedious and lengthy procedure, but we have some tricks up the sleeve that will make the job much simpler and quicker for you. Finding a stud in standard drywall is very simple.