If you have been spending any amount of time staring at the blank spaces on your wall, thinking to yourself, “I should really hang some artwork”, you are in luck. We have a handy-dandy trick for you that will help you safely drill holes into your wall without the use of a stud finder. All you need is a flashlight.
How it Works
Simply put, drywall is hung by drilling screws into your home’s framing. The screw holes are then covered with mud and painted over, which makes the holes almost invisible to the untrained eye. However, drywall screws can leave small indents in the wall that can be uncovered in the darkness by using a flashlight. Here is how it works:
- Turn off all the lights and close any blinds in your room.
- Place your flashlight against the wall at a steep angle. The goal is to have the light beam across the wall.
- Look for small indents or dimples in the wall, which indicate a drywall screw. If you are having difficulties finding the screw, try holding your flashlight from different angles. You are looking for a straight line of dimples on the wall, running from the floor to the ceiling.
- Once you’ve found your drywall screw, mark the dimple with a pencil.
- You should be able to find your next stud (drywall screw dimple) roughly 16 inches to the left or right of the first dimple you found. This will help you confirm that you have in fact found a stud.
Check Your Work
It is always a good idea to ensure that you have found a stud before you start drilling holes. You can do so by giving the wall a knock. If the knock sounds solid, you are on the right track but if the knock sounds hollow, you have likely missed the mark. If ever in doubt, you can always double-check by hammering a small nail into the wall before picking up your drill.
Looking for help on a bigger project, such as building your new dream home? Schedule a call with us to discuss how we can help you achieve your goals.
