Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | May 17, 2012 05:53am | #1

   Stephen,
   I think that some stud finders are sophisticated enough to detect studs under 1-inch of foam; however, I don't know which brand to recommend.

   If you are working inside the house, you can always see how the baseboard is attached. If the baseboard has visible fasteners along the top edge of the baseboard, those fasteners are usually located at the studs.

2. 
   user-901114 | May 17, 2012 07:54am | #2

   Thanks Martin. Problem is there are no walls up yet. My friend forgot to mark where the studs are. Might just have to use a thin drill bit and foam the holes after

3. 
   wjrobinson | May 17, 2012 07:18pm | #3

   Every layer over studs is fastened. From the fasteners with a level and tape measure, mark out studs. Probe for studs like you said where necessary.

4. 
   user-917856 | May 18, 2012 04:32pm | #4

   Stephen,

   I once saw a finish carpenter installing cabinets and using a cow magnet to find the studs. It is a very strong cylindrical magnet which can find nails or screws in wall studs. He slipped a short length of latex surgical tubing over the end so it could dangle against the wall. Any time it was near a nail or screw, it jumped to find it and stayed stuck to it. Some specialty hardware places have these, as do livestock feed stores. I have one and it works great.

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_magnet
   http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRhwBz2AOGVboEgxOT1J1s8rqWwbpraK7FwAv-3GT78fvq8g5L4FU_b_BIOvA

5. 
   davidmeiland | May 18, 2012 07:03pm | #5

   I have my doubts about the magnet trick through an inch of foam.

   Is this a situation where the foam is over plywood sheathing, or just studs? If just studs, you can push gently on the foam to find the hard spots. If plywood, then it's a tough one. Probing will just find the plywood. It could be done with infrared but you would need to spend some time preparing.

6. 
   user-901114 | May 19, 2012 09:03am | #6

   Yes, it's just over studs. I think pushing it lightly might work..

7. 
   journeyman WI | Aug 28, 2013 08:43pm | #7

   i think the NeoDeepSweep would find the fasteners through 1 inch of foam its way stronger than a cow magnet soiktools .com

8. 
   gusfhb | Aug 29, 2013 07:39am | #8

   some 20 years ago I had a fragment of a magnet the size of a peanut m&m that would stick my hand to a file cabinet. I think you could use that to find studs. I think a good stud finder will do it, although I don't like them particularly at all