A stud finder is a piece of equipment which allows users to discover studs and beams beneath the surface of the average house, without the need to do extensive research or take apart any sections of said house. These stud finders use a variety of different methods, depending on the type that is being used, to let you know exactly where these beams are based, so that owners can either work alongside or avoid these areas, in order to maintain the integrity of the home.
The two main methods used with stud finders are magnetic and electronic. The magnetic stud finder works with magnets inside a small, handheld tool which are attracted to the metals used in studs and beams when the house was built. The slight pull felt by this attraction allows the user to “feel” where the studs are based.
Meanwhile, electronic stud finders use a vast array of different sensors and abilities to help indicate the exact whereabouts of these essential aspects of the house. The most common format is one which allows users to discover just the edges of the beams, therefore giving the operator a general idea of where the stud is housed. The most expensive and all-encompassing stud finders, however, will use plethora of algorithms to clearly indicate where walls studs are based, allowing the workmen or homeowner to clearly mark the presence of beams, studs and joists.