Questions tagged [studs]

Vertical member in wall framing.

These are frequently made of wood or metal, and aligned every 16" in US construction. They are secured to top and bottom plates, typically with nails or screws.

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How far apart are studs?

I'm using a stud finder to find studs behind dry wall and so far I've found 2 and they are 16" apart. Does that mean that there will be a stud every 16" or might the distance change between studs? Is 16" the standard for stud centers?
Guy
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What's the proper method for installing new studs in existing frame?

FYI - This is similar to a question I asked last week, but is about something more specific. Expect to see this image yet again in another question I will be asking later today :). I need to install Genie Clips on the far left and right side of the…
oscilatingcretin
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Can a stud have a power line IN it?

I have an edge to edge stud finder with a power line detector. It found the stud but at the same the power detector lighted up. Is it safe to drill that stud. I'm installing a wall mount for a 39" flat tv.
KOB
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Notched exterior stud next to chimney

I had an electrician over yesterday and they ran BX and a flex conduit for a TV I want to hang over my fireplace. I was examining the notch they made in a stud immediately next to the chimney masonry and I'm concerned that it is too deep. The member…
pm_752566
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Finding hard-to-find studs

So, I'm trying to find the studs in an exterior wall. The following techniques have all failed: Running a stud-finder over the wall just produces "lost calibration" beeping after a few inches of movement. Tapping doesn't produce any changes in…
Mark
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What is the purpose of a deeply cut stud in interior walls?

As I have worked on my 30-year-old house, I found some interior 2x6 wall studs are deeply cut, clearly done at the time the home was built. The cuts are somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 along the length of the stud. ! I'm guessing that maybe this was…
HikeOnPast
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how much weight will a 1.5" long wood screw support when screwed into stud?

I'm looking to minimize how much my wall-mounted TV protrudes out of the wall by recessing the wall plate of the mount. The latter is going to be secured by 4 wood screws into 2x4 studs sitting 16" apart - in a square pattern across 2 studs. I'd…
Nikita
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Finding studs in a horse hair plaster wall?

So, I've tried all the standard methods. Checked the outlet, which is screw directly into the lath(yeah, is that even up to code?!). Magnet doesn't work, I've got a rare earth magnet, and the plaster is apparently too think to pick it up(it's about…
Tyler O'Neill
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Studs 16 inches on center, but extra one between two of the studs with electrical outlet?

Is it normal for there to be "extra" studs for electrical outlets? My house is 16in spacing but on this particular stud the next stud is 4 inches. And then the next one is back to 16inches. It's as if they were complete with 16 in spacing and…
James Pyle
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How do I level a 2x4 on a concrete basement floor with an irregular surface?

The original 2x4 that rested on the floor was removed in one piece with approx. 7" of the vertical studs attached to it. The sides of the studs rest against a concrete block wall. The removal was done to allow access to the cold joint for the…
Carol
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Can I use metal studs for framing a shed?

We're building a shed on a pontoon so it will float. Therefore we need it to be light weight yet sturdy enough to hold up to snow in the winter. Will metal studs provide enough strength and support for this project?
sherryB2263
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Studs less than 16 inches apart in shower stall?

I’m using a studpop (https://youtu.be/Dojw5nakCsY) to detect studs as I’m ready to install a grab bar on my fiberglass shower wall. I’m attaching a picture of my shower wall, where there is a window above it. So I ran the studpop on that space…
punsoca
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Where are the studs above a fireplace?

I want to mount a 55" TV above the fireplace, preferably close to the top of the fireplace not too high up. I bought a mount (Sanus OLF18-B1) that attaches to the studs at 4 points in a rectangular pattern, supporting a horizontal spacing between…
firescape
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If a screw is torn out from a wall, could that significantly damage a stud?

Someone slipped on the stairs and grabbed the railing. Unfortunately, the railing came loose, pulling a screw from the stud. Could pulling the screw out like this have damaged the stud in a meaningful way?
Madz
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Can I be certain that there is a stud here?

I'm looking to mount a TV across the gap of a recessed window. The window is set a few inches back from the wall. The plan is to sink two screws into studs on either side of the window to fix the large VESA mount there, and then hang the TV on…
intuited
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