Last updated by Don Kennedy at .
Need to find a stud this Christmas? We can help you out. I’m Sorry single ladies, not that kind of stud! We’re talking about a wall stud. During this time of giving you may need to use a wall stud to hang items. Did you get that sweet 65″ Flat Screen with a wall mount for Christmas? Maybe you are waiting to see if Santa can fit it down the chimney. Well to install a wall mount you will come across this phrase, “secure safely by anchoring into a wall stud.”
No problem, go get the stud finder and use that to find a wall stud. Right? You spend 15 minutes digging through storage for the seldom used stud finder only to discover the batteries died. And you have no extra “AA” batteries lying around. Is it really worth the trip to the store to get a pack of batteries (and the check-out aisle candy bar) to use for two minutes?
Finding a wall stud manually is easier than you may think and using a few simple tricks you can locate them in no time!
How to Find a Wall Stud – 5 Techniques
So you don’t have a working stud finder. Maybe it was never a stocking stuffer and you don’t even own one. <- Can you tell I’m in the Holiday Spirit?- Whatever the case may be, you
cc photo originally by Jami3.org: www.flickr.com/photos/jamiemc/
don’t have one and need to find wall studs to securely mount a TV, mirror, or family portraits.
Luckily, you have a few options and which one you choose is up to you. These tips should help you find a stud and get you on your way to enjoying whatever it is you are hanging.
1.) Use the knock test to check for hollow (no stud) vs. solid (stud) sounds
2.) The 16″ rule- Wall studs are usually 16″ apart (24″ in some older homes) so…
- Start at the corner where there are studs and measure out from there
- Or, remove face plates on outlets. studs should be directly left or right to the outlet
3.) If unsure, Drill a small hole w/smallest bit just above the baseboard where you think the wall stud may be.
- cover the small hole with epoxy later
4.) Use a large, strong refrigerator magnet covered in painters tape. It should stick to studs that have nails or screws in them
5.) Hammer straight pins into where you think a wall stud may be. This should leave no visible hole.
Once you find a stud, I recommend using a nail or small drill bit to locate the center of the stud. Tap a nail halfway into the drywall and if you can’t push it in, you’re on the stud. Move 1/4″ to the left and right until you are able to push the nail through without contacting a stud. This technique should give you a good idea where the center of the stud is. Securing your anchor into the center of the stud is important. If you are off-center, the wall stud may splinter and cause the object to fall. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
You can use any or all of these options to find a wall stud. Once the stud(s) is located, you can find the height you want to mount you object and follow the correct anchoring instructions. If you are using more than one anchor, Make sure you use a level! Being just 1 degree off can make a large object look very crooked!
We will try to update this post with a video demonstration soon. I wanted to make sure I got this blog out there before the Holidays for any followers that may need it! Thanks for reading and happy hanging!
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Please post any comments or questions you may have. We’d love to see any projects of your own, as well! Feel free to share them here or on the ProMaster Facebook Page
By Mark Evans
In this weeks blog we will show you how to make the two ends of a Cat5 Ethernet cable and provide valuable tips for your home network setup. A home network setup is relatively easy. It allows you to place a jack to receive internet service in areas that may not be serviced well by a wireless connection from either speed or accessibility issues.
DIY Home Network Setup Video
Running Ethernet Through Your Home
The first step is to analyze your home and determine where the jack and router will be, how you will get it there, and how long the cable will need to run. The needs vary from house to house so there is no one answer for a home network setup. -SOME ADVICE- When you are running the wire through walls, remember these three things:
- Run wires through center of studs so you can screw drywall into the studs
- Keep the Cat5 or Cat6 cable at least a few feet from the electrical line to minimize interference
- If you must cross electrical line, do so at a 90 degree angle to minimize interference
How to Create Home Network “Plug” Ends
To wire your home network you will need two ends, a plug and a jack. The plug will connect to your router. The jack will be exposed through the wall to connect your internet device. To create the plug end, you need Cat5 or Cat6 Ethernet cable, RJ45 connector ends (pictured to the right), a sharp utility knife, scissors, a network end crimping tool, and preferably a cable connection tester to check for mistakes before you install the cable. To create the plug end of your home network cable, follow these steps:
RJ45 connector
- Remove about 2 inches of the rubber sheathing from the cable
- Remove fabric piece
- Untwist the 4 wire pairs (Orange-white/orange, blue-white/blue, green-white/green, brown-white/brown)
- Order the pairs from Left-to-Right: White/orange, Orange, White/Green, Blue, White/Blue, Green, White/Brown, Brown (Image to right)
- Trim in straight line to about 3/4″ to 1″
- Gently slide the connector end with the clip facing down. DO NOT FORCE!
- Ensure ends are touching connectors and order is correct
- Use Crimping tool to secure connector end in place
If you do this correctly, all ends should line up with the conductors in the plug and the wires should be ordered in the colors described above.
How to Create Home Network “Jack” Ends
The jack end of your Home Network Ethernet cable will be the end that is exposed through the wall. You will use this jack to plug in your device via an Ethernet cable to gain access to your internet connection. This step is, IMO, simpler than the Ethernet plug end. It’s also nice because if you mess up the wiring, you can redo it without starting from scratch. The steps are:
Ethernet Cable Jack (top view)
- Remove about 2 inches of the rubber sheathing from the cable
- Remove fabric piece
- Untwist the 4 wire pairs (Orange-white/orange, blue-white/blue, green-white/green, brown-white/brown)
- Place wires in corresponding slots following the B-Convention color pattern shown on the jack.
- Use tool or screwdriver to push wires down all the way
- Place plastic cap over wires
- Wrap exposed wire and cap in electrical tape
- Insert into faceplate and attach faceplate to wall
You should now have a network connection allowing you to access the internet through a hardline anywhere in your home! If you wish to try this on your own, best of luck! If you have any questions, leave a comment below and we will answer it promptly. If this task is a bit challenging for you, give us a call at 513-724-0539 and we will be glad to help!
Thanks for reading and as always, we’d love to hear stories, questions or comments in the section below.
Call (513) 724-0539
With Thanksgiving Day almost here, we thought it’d be a good idea to compile a list of some last minute Thanksgiving ideas to help entertain guests. Read below for our top 5 and feel free to add any of your own below!
Our Top 5 Thanksgiving Ideas: Turkey Day is Almost Here!
#5 Greet Your Guests
CC photo Originally by celesteh
Setting a great environment before your guests even enter your home can be the ideal start to a perfect Thanksgiving celebration. Using fall flowers, squashes, pumpkins, and fallen leaves yells “IT’S FALL!” to everyone walking up to your home. Adding a Fall wreath to the front door ties it all together and really welcomes your family with loving arms.
#4 The Perfect Centerpiece
CC photo Originally by Bunches and Bits
Adding a centerpiece to your dining table adds to the ambiance of Thanksgiving dinner. Many people don’t use centerpieces on a daily basis, but this is a special occasion. There are a lot of options out there that will wow your guests. Some small and easy and others that are large and complex. Whatever you choose it’s sure to add a special touch to your Thanksgiving Day celebration. This one is my personal favorite because it’s small enough to leave room for food! Check out others here.
#3 Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids
cc photo Originally by warrenski
If you have kids coming to your party, which most families do, giving them something to do while the turkey roasts is pretty important. A great idea that gets the kids involved is letting them decorate the kids table and make their own unique place markers. Covering the table and giving them mess-free crafts allows them to spend time with family and have fun with the holidays.
#2 Thanksgiving Ideas for Adults
cc photo Originally by 3liz4
If you’ve never had Hot Hard Apple Cider, you’re in for a treat! This fall favorite is a great drink for the adults at the party. Not too strong with the perfect mix of fall flavors will help bring families together as they share drinks and memories while creating new ones. Get the recipe.
#1 Thanksgiving Hand Held Dessert
CC photo Originally by amlamster
Pumpkin pie bites are an awesome alternative to the traditional desserts. With a large gathering, sometimes it’s hard to get people to sit back down for dessert so offering a hand held option that they can carry around while mingling may be the perfect answer. They may be a fun way to get kids to try new things, too!
Bonus: Turkey Eating Pants! (and other advice)
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to Turkey I’m in love. It’s not everyday that you get to sit down with friends and family and enjoy a deliciously roasted bird (not to mention all the sides)! All that food means two things to me:
1.) Wear comfy pants! I’ve had many Thanksgivings where I put on a pair of pants and said, “Nope!” If they are too tight in the morning, chances are they will be uncomfortable after the meal. Make sure you have room to grow so you can avoid popping a button.
2.) Exercise- With an average Turkey Day meal calorie count at 3,000 calories you got to make sure to get some exercise in the weeks surrounding the holiday. To burn 3,000 calories, you need to run about 4 hours. A T-Day morning trot isn’t going to do much to keep off the weight.
That’s all for today! Thanks for reading and we hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day celebration with your loved ones! Please add your favorite Thanksgiving food and decoration ideas below, we’d love to hear them.
The video below was originally made to discuss things to look for in a rental home, but these tips can be used in any home. There are three cheap, easy fixes that will save you a lot of money to fix before a problem occurs.
Check Your Attic Vents!
Attic vent cover (a.k.a "whirlybird")
First thing to look for is that your attic vent is covered. An attic vent keeps the rain out but still allows air to circulate in your home. Sizes and styles of attic vents vary, but a common size is around 12 inches in diameter. That means if one has blown off or been damaged in a storm, you will have a 12 inch hole in your roof! This creates a perfect opening for the inside of your home to become exposed to all of the elements (rain, snow, hail, etc…) as well as create a very welcoming opening for any critters to get inside your attic and find a new, cozy home.
In order to prevent the problems caused by rain or critters in your attic, it’s best to give a look and make sure you see an attic cover on your roof after every major windstorm.
Electrical outlet
Replace Dead Electrical Outlets
Another thing to check is all the outlets of your home. This is more of a tip for a rental owner, but as a homeowner, you’ll likely know of any bad outlets around the house that cause you problems. Instead of calling a home repair professional, you can go to any hardware store and get a new outlet for around $2 and easily install it yourself.
Replace Corroded Shut-Off Valves
One last thing that is a common problem in rental properties as well as many homes over 15 years old. Old and corroded plumbing shut-off valves that can cause serious damage. Without periodic replacement of shut-off valves, leaks may occur that rot cabinetry, framing and sub-flooring that will cost thousands of dollars to repair. It’s an easy part replacement and only costs a few dollars that can save you thousands!
Plumbing shut-off valve
Preventative maintenance is crucial to keeping a healthy home, so make sure to check your attic vent after storms and if you live in a home older than 15 years, check shut-off valves for signs of corrosion!
ProMaster Can Help
As always, if you are in the Cincinnati area and need help with these or any home repair project, ProMaster Home Repair of Cincinnati is here to help!
Call (513) 724-0539
How to Hang Pictures
Hanging pictures and mirrors may seem like a simple task, but if you don’t do it correctly, you can have a major disaster. Location and proper materials are essential to making sure that your wall hangings don’t come crashing down.
Hang Pictures the Right Way – Instructional Video
Watch the video above for a demonstration on how to hang pictures and to view my failure of wall mounting a TV while the boss was out that will show you why you need a laser level.
Steps to Picture Hanging
Black and Decker Bullseye
The first step is to locate studs in your wall using a stud finder. Securing a screw into a stud (we prefer screws to nails) will ensure that you have ample support for your typical photos and mirrors. If you are hanging multiple items you wish to keep level or need multiple supports for one item, use a stud finder with a level and laser guide because not much detracts from a rooms beauty more than crooked picture frames. (Black and Decker Bulls Eye, $50)
Now, sometimes studs aren’t in the ideal position and you really want to hang that piece right in the middle of the wall to tie the room together. That can be done! You’ll need to go out and buy some wall anchors to secure the screw, but with the proper anchor, you can support items of 75 pounds or more without a stud! Here is a link to an excellent, quick three part tutorial on what wall anchors to use and how to install them.
After you locate the stud or realize you need to use wall anchors, insert the screw and hang your artwork, photos or mirror to personalize any space in your home.
There you go; three simple steps and you’re done. Locate and make level marks on studs, fasten screw (with anchor if needed) and hang your items. It’s a pretty simple task that I’m sure most of you can handle but if you need any help with this at all, you know you can call us at ProMaster of Cincinnati at 513-724-0539 visit us on the web at www.MasterMyList.com and friend us on Facebook keyword“ProMaster Craftsmen”.
Call (513) 724-0539
