Will a stud finder work through plaster?

Answer by  jane51 (287)

yes, that is what it is made for so that a stud can be located with no damage to the plaster or drywall you run it along the wall and it will beep when you are over a stud, there is also a light feature on some models that will blink

Answer by  Binome (1975)

Assuming the plaster isn't unbelievably thick, it should work just fine. That's what a stud finder is designed for, after all. If you can hear a difference by tapping on the wall, then the stud finder can definitely handle it.

Answer by  TMATM (499)

Stud finders detect the change in density as you move it over sheetrock and pass over a stud. The density of plaster and the lathes that hold the plaster to the studs make standard stud finders very inconsistent on plaster walls. They may indicate the pesence of a stud when there isn't really one there.

Answer by  Rick88 (15)

The answer to the question is absolutely yes. From my experience using a stud finder on many surfaces and kinds of material used in walls, the answer is yes.

Answer by  Latin4 (11170)

That's what a stud finder is for. Once you have located 2 studs you can measure between the two and the remaining studs should be the same distance apart. Check when your house was built, this could make a difference where your studs are.