Locating Studs Behind Vinyl Siding

This is not always the case depending on the installer.

Locating studs behind vinyl siding. Best way is from the inside. The better way is to locate the edges of the osb sheathing. Grab yourself a siding removal tool and pull up the top section of siding i m fairly certain you ll find a video on youtube on how to use it. 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. It s easy and works great. In most homes studs are spaced 16 inches apart measured at their centers. In theory the siding should be nailed at the studs.

The purpose is to anchor window boxes directly to studs on 2nd floor of the home. A little light will go off or the finder will make a beeping noise when it finds a. Walk very slowly along the exterior siding while holding the stud finder. Remove the section of siding at the elevation you plan on mounting the awning at.

The walls are vinyl sided and i prefer not to have to lift it up. 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. There is a power outlet beneath the window so i know where that stud is. You may detect a nail in the sheathing and it won t be a stud.

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. 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. Too many layers will give you a false reading. Once you find the center of one stud you can measure horizontally to find more studs.

The edges must be nailed into a stud. Older homes and some interior walls in newer homes have studs with 24 inch spacing and very old homes may have relatively random spacing. Place the stud finder at the edge of the exterior siding. 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.

Using a stud finder on the outside is hit or miss. I tried locating the studs from the inside. Then you can check for studs however you like drilling test holes etc.