How to Find Ceiling Studs - Porch Swing
Russell Davis
I was given a porch swing which must be screwed into the ceiling studs.
Our porch ceiling is made of wood slats, many of which seem to run the
entire width of the porch. I can’t seem to find any evidence of nails or
anything else that would point to the exact location of the studs. I
tried to use a stud finder but the wood slats are too thick (but not
thick enough to support the swing). Any suggestions on the best way to
find the studs? I would hate to rip down the ceiling and destroy the
swing because of improper installation. Thanks for your thoughts.
Russell.
Darius A. Riley
In article <4s3ijb$4...@canton.charm.net>, Russell Davis <rda...@charm.net>
wrote:
I did this once by guessing where the stud might be and then drilling a
hole and using a coat hanger to poke around inside to find the stud. You
might try going into the attic to determine the direction and spacing of
the studs and try measuring over from the edges. Good Luck.
--
€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€
" If you don't know where you are going, how do you expect
to get there? " - Basil S. Walsh
€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€
Darius A. Riley
dar...@qni.com
dar...@aol.com
Phil Munro
In article <4s3ijb$4...@canton.charm.net>
Russell Davis <rda...@charm.net> writes:
>I was given a porch swing which must be screwed into the ceiling studs.
>Our porch ceiling is made of wood slats, many of which seem to run the
>entire width of the porch. I can t seem to find any evidence of nails or
>anything else that would point to the exact location of the studs. I
>tried to use a stud finder but the wood slats are too thick (but not
>thick enough to support the swing). Any suggestions on the best way to
>find the studs? I would hate to rip down the ceiling and destroy the
>swing because of improper installation. Thanks for your thoughts.
>
yours is like this, be careful. The "studs" above mine are 1x4s nailed
two-together. I was able to find them with a magnetic nail finder, and
then cut an *access hole* into the space above the porch ceiling.
I then did an add-on of 2 foot pieces of 2x4 glued and nailed (? I think)
to the 1x4s. Of course I could find where to put the screw hooks for the
swing once I had the access. I predrilled the studs and used substantial
hooks.It has remained quit solid for many years.
Of course I had some crawl space above my porch ceiling. If you have
the same, it might be worth openning an access hole. I was also able to
add some venting to the space.--Phil
Floyd Brown
In article <4s3ijb$4...@canton.charm.net>, rda...@charm.net says...
>
>I was given a porch swing which must be screwed into the ceiling studs.
>Our porch ceiling is made of wood slats, many of which seem to run the
>entire width of the porch. I can’t seem to find any evidence of nails or
>anything else that would point to the exact location of the studs. I
>tried to use a stud finder but the wood slats are too thick (but not
>thick enough to support the swing). Any suggestions on the best way to
>find the studs? I would hate to rip down the ceiling and destroy the
>swing because of improper installation. Thanks for your thoughts.
>
>
> radio shack has a stud finder that does not use the nails but use the
density of the material
Rockjas
I use a $10 metal detector (yes, the kind your children play with) and
have never missed on finding studs. Good luck.
Doug & Rose Miller
Russell Davis <rda...@charm.net> wrote:
+I was given a porch swing which must be screwed into the ceiling studs.
+Our porch ceiling is made of wood slats, many of which seem to run the
+entire width of the porch. I can’t seem to find any evidence of nails or
+anything else that would point to the exact location of the studs. I
+tried to use a stud finder but the wood slats are too thick (but not
+thick enough to support the swing). Any suggestions on the best way to
+find the studs? I would hate to rip down the ceiling and destroy the
+swing because of improper installation. Thanks for your thoughts.
+
+Russell.
+
+
Sounds like you were using an ultrasonic stud finder -- these really are
designed to find studs behind drywall. Try to get a magnetic stud
finder, or just use a strong magnet held in your fingers, to find the nails.
JOHN SPEIGHT
I hear that using an electric shaver - run along the all or ceiling -
will detect studs by changes in sound shaver vibration makes.
Faron Faulk
dar...@qni.com (Darius A. Riley) wrote:
>In article <4s3ijb$4...@canton.charm.net>, Russell Davis <rda...@charm.net>
>wrote:
>> I was given a porch swing which must be screwed into the ceiling studs.
>> Our porch ceiling is made of wood slats, many of which seem to run the
>> entire width of the porch. I can’t seem to find any evidence of nails or
>> anything else that would point to the exact location of the studs. I
>> tried to use a stud finder but the wood slats are too thick (but not
>> thick enough to support the swing). Any suggestions on the best way to
>> find the studs? I would hate to rip down the ceiling and destroy the
>> swing because of improper installation. Thanks for your thoughts.
>>
>> Russell.
>I did this once by guessing where the stud might be and then drilling a
>hole and using a coat hanger to poke around inside to find the stud. You
>might try going into the attic to determine the direction and spacing of
>the studs and try measuring over from the edges. Good Luck.
use a stud finder. they're like $15-$20, but pay for themselves
rather quickly in reduced time and frustration.
faron
the opinions in this message are mine and not my employers.
Woodchip Surfer
FL>In article <4s3ijb$4...@canton.charm.net>, rda...@charm.net says...
FL>>
FL>>I was given a porch swing which must be screwed into the ceiling studs.
FL>>Our porch ceiling is made of wood slats, many of which seem to run the
FL>>entire width of the porch. I can’t seem to find any evidence of nails or
FL>>anything else that would point to the exact location of the studs. I
FL>>tried to use a stud finder but the wood slats are too thick (but not
FL>>thick enough to support the swing). Any suggestions on the best way to
FL>>find the studs? I would hate to rip down the ceiling and destroy the
FL>>swing because of improper installation. Thanks for your thoughts.
FL>>
FL>>Russell.
FL>>
FL>> radio shack has a stud finder that does not use the nails but use the
FL>density of the material
be carefull what you ask for. the usual way they hung wainscot ceiling
was blind nailes on only 2 by 4 ceiling joists usually two foot on
center. sometimes 30 inch on center. You may be swinging away on your
porch swing with your arm around your wife and suddenly find your self
on the porch deck with a pile of edge and center bead surrounding you
along with much soot and 70 year old animal nestings and fecal matter.
I suggest you poke a hole in the bedroom wall upstairs and slide a
double 2 X 6 out onto the porch header 6 or 7 feet away and fasten your
porch swing to that and use a double joist hangar onto the bedroom wall
sheathing. Even if the original method you were gonna use worked
somewhat, eventually the bead board would work loose from the swinging
and gradually deposit soot onto your head and shoulders. Unless thats
not a problem.:)
Just a thought
Woodchi...@Excaliber.com
to: IN:flo...@qnet.com
cc: in: **ALL**