Locating Studs Behind Vinyl Siding

Then you can check for studs however you like drilling test holes etc.

Locating studs behind vinyl siding.

Place the stud finder at the edge of the exterior siding. Once you find the center of one stud you can measure horizontally to find more studs. Too many layers will give you a false reading. Here s a super simple old school way to find a wall stud without having to buy an electronic stud finder.

Measure 16 and mark additional stud locations. The walls are vinyl sided and i prefer not to have to lift it up. The best way to find a stud while working on on the outside whether brick siding or stone is to use an electronic stud finder. Insulation sheathing vapor barrier.

Walk very slowly along the exterior siding while holding the stud finder. Older homes and some interior walls in newer homes have studs with 24 inch spacing and very old homes may have relatively random spacing. It s easy and works great. There is a power outlet beneath the window so i know where that stud is.

The better way is to locate the edges of the osb sheathing. The edges must be nailed into a stud. Using a stud finder on the outside is hit or miss. For vinyl siding use a vinyl siding removal tool to unsnap the seal between two pieces of siding allowing you to see the nail heads.

You may detect a nail in the sheathing and it won t be a stud. A little light will go off or the finder will make a beeping noise when it finds a. In most homes studs are spaced 16 inches apart measured at their centers. Remove the section of siding at the elevation you plan on mounting the awning at.

Sadly you can t always rely on the nails holding any type of siding to indicate where the studs are but if it s vinyl over plywood the plywood nails should be a good guide. I m having trouble finding the studs through the exterior of our home. For solid cladding such as stucco or brick your best bet is to locate the studs inside the house and then transfer the measurements to the exterior wall. The purpose is to anchor window boxes directly to studs on 2nd floor of the home.

Using a window as a location guide use a stud finder on the inside to locate a stud or two and transfer that to the. Best way is from the inside. I tried locating the studs from the inside.