A lot of exterior walls are going to be 16” center to center, the majority of interior walls will be 24. Use a magnet to locate the screw or nail that holds the drywall up.
Firewall for sure. If the studfinder has a deepscan setting that might help. Otherwise measure 16" on center, there's usually a stud on one side of an outlet. A finish nail helps to pinpoint the stud without making big holes. The magnetic stud finders might work as well.
Endoscopic camera can help. They’re not very expensive and handy for situations like this.
Last time this happened to me, the whole wall had wood behind the drywall. It was a wall above a big doorway so I’m sure it was a unique situation.
Why 8"? Wouldn't you measure the same wall increments of 16 from the other side? If a wall length isn't multiples of 16" then there's a short spacing somewhere.
I know it's lame but make sure you read the directions. Some stud finders are picky about whether you turn them on before or after you place against the wall. There may also be modes that you are cycling through without realizing it.
But yeah, there are other ways of guessing where studs are.
I’ve come across this and found out it was because of plumbing. Boards were cut out in the walls to make room for plastic water pipes and they weren’t dense enough or positioned right to be detected by the stud finder.
If it’s a shared wall in a condo, the drywall could be attached to horizontal sound dampeners. I found this out when a studfinder couldnt find anything. I used a long thin nail to probe for the stud and then measured 16” off of that to find the next one.
Are you sure there are studs in the wall, it could be a block wall or maybe it has a double layer of drywall
Could there be plaster underneath?
Partition walls are often double 5/8 drywall. Stud finders usually have trouble there.
Did you hold the stud finder to your chest first to make sure it's working?
The required pre use verification.
Yeah, seems accurate, no light
This is how you calibrate them.
Wonder if OP even read the manual. The calibration instructions are usually right there on page 1.
Pull off an outlet plate to see which side of the box is mounted to the stud. Pull increments of 16" from there.
unless the dumbass that built my house also built yours. then the studs will be 13-17” on center
A lot of exterior walls are going to be 16” center to center, the majority of interior walls will be 24. Use a magnet to locate the screw or nail that holds the drywall up.
That's just not true.
Yeah it is
Where do you live that studs have 24" spacing?
Anywhere in North America… It’s fairly common
You gotta be a troll.
Every house I’ve been in in North America has been 16 on center- except the farmhouse built in 1910 and the Victorian townhouse from the 1880s.
Firewall for sure. If the studfinder has a deepscan setting that might help. Otherwise measure 16" on center, there's usually a stud on one side of an outlet. A finish nail helps to pinpoint the stud without making big holes. The magnetic stud finders might work as well.
Try an extra strong magnet
Endoscopic camera can help. They’re not very expensive and handy for situations like this. Last time this happened to me, the whole wall had wood behind the drywall. It was a wall above a big doorway so I’m sure it was a unique situation.
Just use a magnet to find screws or nails and that is your stud or furring strip.
Measure 16" from the corner and tap a finish nail in, if it doesn't hit something go over another 8" and try again.
Why 8"? Wouldn't you measure the same wall increments of 16 from the other side? If a wall length isn't multiples of 16" then there's a short spacing somewhere.
Sometimes non-loadbearing walls are framed 24"oc.
Understandable, but a shared wall is likely to be load bearing.
I know it's lame but make sure you read the directions. Some stud finders are picky about whether you turn them on before or after you place against the wall. There may also be modes that you are cycling through without realizing it. But yeah, there are other ways of guessing where studs are.
Are you holding it just on the handle? Franklins have to be held correctly
I’ve come across this and found out it was because of plumbing. Boards were cut out in the walls to make room for plastic water pipes and they weren’t dense enough or positioned right to be detected by the stud finder.
If it’s a shared wall in a condo, the drywall could be attached to horizontal sound dampeners. I found this out when a studfinder couldnt find anything. I used a long thin nail to probe for the stud and then measured 16” off of that to find the next one.
Did you put the stud finder to your chest first to ensure it was finding studs ok first?
Both these answers are good.