Grab an ice pick (if you don't have one a small screwdriver will do) and at the height of where the top screw will go on the stud line tap it through the drywall until you hit the stud. You'll be able to feel if it is wood or metal.
Use Magnets to Find Fasteners
Drywall is fastened to studs using drywall screws or cupped drywall nails. These screws are driven just past the surface of the drywall, then covered in drywall mud and paint. This makes finding them with a magnet fairly easy.
Wall scanners are used prior to starting drilling work on walls of different types. The easy-to-use units are designed to detect wood and metal studs, as well as live electrical wires.
You can download the app called "metal dedector" and use your Magnetic Sensor as a metal detector. My readings go nuts if I bring my phone near my Buds Pro and my wireless charger duo. Said sensor is located on top left (while screen is facing you) corner.
With a small twist bit (up to 13mm), you can drill through most metals at 3,000 rpm. For larger twist bits (up to 26mm), 350 to 1,000 rpm is recommended.
Wires. Electrical cables are usually behind drywall, either running horizontally through holes in the studs or stapled vertically up the sides of studs. Outlet cables tend to be about 12 inches high. Light switches are around 48 inches high, so expect to see electric cables around that area.
A stud detector is perfect for locating hidden studs behind walls, ensuring secure installation of shelves, TVs, and more. Meanwhile, a moisture meter helps you monitor dampness in materials like wood or concrete, preventing damage and ensuring proper conditions for the building.
Unfortunately, depending on your living space and the construction of your home, the wall that you choose for your TV may not have studs. The good news is that you can still mount your TV despite the hollow walls with Mount-It's No Stud TV Wall Mount that hangs on your wall like a picture frame.
Radar stud finders can detect both wooden and metal studs, as well as other objects like pipes and electrical wires.
By scanning the wall surface, a stud finder can detect changes in density that may indicate the presence of wires or other obstacles. Look for a stud finder with a built-in wire detection feature for added convenience.
You absolutely can drill into metal studs without weakening them, and in many cases drilling into metal studs will be required. However, it's important to drill pilot holes first, and be sure to anchor anything to the center of the stud if you are using the stud to bear weight.
Most TV mounts in the market are designed to be installed in either wooden studs or concrete, but it's also possible to mount a TV into metal studs. The process is virtually the same, but you will need a few additional tools and equipment.
Pay attention to light switches and sockets. “The main dangers [of drilling into a wall] are hitting an electrical wire, water pipe, or gas pipe,” explains Issabel Williams, a crew member with Fantastic Handyman UK. “All of these scenarios can lead to electrocution or flooding.”
A stud finder is a handheld device designed to scan drywall for wood studs. Some stud finders may also be used to locate metal studs, while others may even detect wiring within your walls. They may find the edge or the center of stud boards. Some can detect studs up to 1 1/ 2 inches deep in the wall.
Because studs are not often apparent from outside of the wall, purchasing a stud finder tool will help find the studs faster and help you know where to drill. We recommend buying one that is electronic or battery-powered, not magnetic, as most homes don't use metal studs.
If you think your home might have steel studs, you can check by running a magnet along a wall. While nails and screws in wood studs will attract a magnet, steel studs will have a stronger attraction along the entire height of the stud. An electronic wall stud finder can also detect metal in a wall.
Ghosting happens when mildly damp, warm, and possibly sooty interior air condenses on the sections of walls and ceiling that are colder because part of the wood frame is uninsulated. This results in black sooty stains on your walls and ceilings that follow the patterns of your home's framing.
Studs form the skeleton of your walls and can be made of either wood, which is traditional and common in residential constructions, or metal, often found in modern and commercial buildings.
Not only do the lights go out, but you usually blow a fuse as well. With a bit of luck, you might only have to repair the cable sheath. But if you damaged or severed a wire, just using a terminal strip, insulation tape and some silicone sealant are not recommended – you need some professional kit!