I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.



*If possible look for studs on the wall behind the bathroom. There is the
possibility that you will find one every 16" and every 4', but you have no
way of knowing from which direction did the original builder start.

On Mar 25, 4:17*am, Bob wrote:
I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. *I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.


You don't say why you need to find them, maybe a grab bar in a shower?

Most tile doesn't go all the way to the ceiling so you might be able
to check above the tile.

If the wall has an adjoining room or closet check that wall then take
measurements. Keep in mind the thickness of the tile when
transferring measurements to the other side of the wall.

If the ceiling joists are resting on the wall that has the studs you
need to find each joist *should* be directly above a stud.
like this:
http://www.kurowski.com/dreamhomes/c...e%20house..jpg

Never tried this but maybe a rare earth magnet to locate the nails or
screws holding up the drywall or cement board behind the tile.

If the grout line is big enough you could drill holes through the
grout until you find a stud.

I have had good luck with an electronic stud finder.

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:58:03 -0700 (PDT), Limp Arbor
wrote:

On Mar 25, 4:17*am, Bob wrote:
I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. *I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.


You don't say why you need to find them, maybe a grab bar in a shower?

Shelf.

Most tile doesn't go all the way to the ceiling so you might be able
to check above the tile.

Floor to ceiling, unfortunately. I would have jumped at that.

If the wall has an adjoining room or closet check that wall then take
measurements. Keep in mind the thickness of the tile when
transferring measurements to the other side of the wall.

That just occurred to me (doh). But I'm not sure how well it aligns,
etc. At least that may be a good starting point.

I do know that they used the widest allowable spacing, which if memory
serves, was 20" rather than 16".

If the ceiling joists are resting on the wall that has the studs you
need to find each joist *should* be directly above a stud.
like this:
http://www.kurowski.com/dreamhomes/c...e%20house..jpg

Nice pic. But I know the guy who built the wall, and his carpentry
skills are not much better than mine. That's not good. g I just
hope that they are aligned. I'll take another look from above and see
if there are any clues.

Never tried this but maybe a rare earth magnet to locate the nails or
screws holding up the drywall or cement board behind the tile.

They used steel studs. I've had trouble with those for various
reasons, but in this case, that may pay off.

If the grout line is big enough you could drill holes through the
grout until you find a stud.

All good ideas, thanks. Not much of a grout line, but I have tiny
drill bits that could work. And it suits my Elmer-Fud-like approach
to carpentry. g What do you use to patch the holes afterward?

In article ,
(Bob) says...

They used steel studs. I've had trouble with those for various
reasons, but in this case, that may pay off.

Go back and give the stud finder a try. With that much steel in the
stud, you should be able to locate it with no problem. Inductive
resonance stud finders will detect a drywall nail.

--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.

Bob wrote:
I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.

Use a strong magnet to find the nails. Take the magnet out of a dead harddrive.

I just tried it using a magnet from an old 5 1/4" HD. The magnet would stay in
place over the nails in the shower I built a couple years ago with tile probably
3/8" thick.

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:51:55 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote:

Use a strong magnet to find the nails. Take the magnet out of a dead harddrive.


Example:

http://www.dansdata.com/magnets.htm

I just tried it using a magnet from an old 5 1/4" HD. The magnet would stay in
place over the nails in the shower I built a couple years ago with tile probably
3/8" thick.

They have men behind tiles???? Oh you got my hopes up. j/k


--
Dymphna
Message Origin: TRAVEL.com

"Bob" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:58:03 -0700 (PDT), Limp Arbor
wrote:

On Mar 25, 4:17 am, Bob wrote:
I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.


You don't say why you need to find them, maybe a grab bar in a shower?

Shelf.

Most tile doesn't go all the way to the ceiling so you might be able
to check above the tile.

Floor to ceiling, unfortunately. I would have jumped at that.

If the wall has an adjoining room or closet check that wall then take
measurements. Keep in mind the thickness of the tile when
transferring measurements to the other side of the wall.

That just occurred to me (doh). But I'm not sure how well it aligns,
etc. At least that may be a good starting point.

I do know that they used the widest allowable spacing, which if memory
serves, was 20" rather than 16".

If the ceiling joists are resting on the wall that has the studs you
need to find each joist *should* be directly above a stud.
like this:
http://www.kurowski.com/dreamhomes/c...e%20house..jpg

Nice pic. But I know the guy who built the wall, and his carpentry
skills are not much better than mine. That's not good. g I just
hope that they are aligned. I'll take another look from above and see
if there are any clues.

Never tried this but maybe a rare earth magnet to locate the nails or
screws holding up the drywall or cement board behind the tile.

They used steel studs. I've had trouble with those for various
reasons, but in this case, that may pay off.

If the grout line is big enough you could drill holes through the
grout until you find a stud.

All good ideas, thanks. Not much of a grout line, but I have tiny
drill bits that could work. And it suits my Elmer-Fud-like approach
to carpentry. g What do you use to patch the holes afterward?
Any decent metal detector (treasure finder) should be able to locate steel
studs from quite a distance.

Don Young

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:28:07 -0700, Larry Caldwell
wrote:

In article ,
(Bob) says...

They used steel studs. I've had trouble with those for various
reasons, but in this case, that may pay off.

Go back and give the stud finder a try. With that much steel in the
stud, you should be able to locate it with no problem.

You'd think so, but mine gives a solid 'on' over the tile. Backing
away diminishes the sensitivity, of course, but it seems to be all-on
or all-off. A sensitivity control would probably help.

Inductive
resonance stud finders will detect a drywall nail.

Maybe I need a better stud finder. Is there a model that you would
recommend?

Bob wrote:
I've searched for info on this before, and always came up empty. Seems
the consensus is that most stud finders (like my 'Zircon') fail to
detect through tile.

Just wondering if anything has changed, given the marvels of modern
science g or if anyone knows any tricks. I'm not a carpenter, by
any stretch, and don't know much about removing tile, etc.

Can you find the studs from the OTHER side of the wall?