Which way are my studs going?

[thestrangebrew1]

I'd like to mount my 5.1s to the ceiling. Currently using a wireless solution that makes my rear speakers stand in the way. I don't have a stud finder (I know I could get one, but I'm just formulating right now). I have a ac/heater vent oriented in the pic below.



Based on how the vent is installed, wouldn't that mean my studs on the ceiling are running towards the viewer vs running perpendicular? Or not necessarily?

 

[MongGrel]

Climb up in the attic and look ?

Is it a house ? They are normally going to run perpendicular to the roof line, unless your house is really weird.

Horizontally from the pick I would imagine.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Climb up in the attic and look ?

Is it a house ? They are normally going to run perpendicular to the roof line, unless your house is really weird.

Horizontally from the pick I would imagine.

It's a 2 story house with the master directly above. Otherwise I would've just climbed up.

 

[PottedMeat]

can you take off the vent and see where they nailed it?

 

[Greenman]

Get a magnet and find the drywall nails/screws, or just tap with your knuckle and listen for density changes.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I'll give it a shot. I've got bookcases and the tv and stand right below it. might be easier to buy/borrow a stud finder.

 

[Micrornd]

Just for future reference, the terminology is "joists", not "studs" when referring to the ceiling or floor.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Yeah...and the joists *usually follow the same direction as the roof. In most ranch style houses, the joists will go from the front of the house to the back of the house as the gables are typically on the sides of the house. The reason they do this is because the load transfer of the floor joists should be directly over load-bearing studs in the walls to transfer the load. There are a few exceptions to this, but most framers make it simple.

Basic Example of a 2 Story here:

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Thanks for the info. I didn't get a chance to start on it yesterday as some other things came up. Maybe this weekend I'll take a look and see what I can do. I may have found another solution. Behind the back wall is actually the closet to another room. I may just punch a hole to the closet on the bottom to get wire up and back out up top. Then run some speaker wire outside the house and back in towards the rear. It'll look pretty ghetto from the outside, but I've got a bunch of Cat5e running outside anyways.

 

[twinrider1]

I have entered this thread and found the existing posts to have provided sufficient detail to answer the questions posed. I see no reason to repeat the information in my own words.

 

[Greenman]

Yeah...and the joists *usually follow the same direction as the roof. In most ranch style houses, the joists will go from the front of the house to the back of the house as the gables are typically on the sides of the house. The reason they do this is because the load transfer of the floor joists should be directly over load-bearing studs in the walls to transfer the load. There are a few exceptions to this, but most framers make it simple.

Basic Example of a 2 Story here:

Interesting little graphic. About the only place you'll see a house framed like that is Cambodia.

 

[Micrornd]

Interesting little graphic. About the only place you'll see a house framed like that is Cambodia.

There's plenty of cheap houses here built like that.
I know I've have to fix quite a few in the past.

At least it's not balloon framing.

 

[Greenman]

There's plenty of cheap houses here built like that.
I know I've have to fix quite a few in the past.

At least it's not balloon framing.

Here in earthquake country we build a wee bit different than that. On a 650 square foot addition, I have 6 24"x36" pages of structural details. All of it is inspected by the city or county, and by the structural engineer. The engineer also specs the diameter of the nails we use in every application. It gets complicated.

 

[Micrornd]

Here in earthquake country we build a wee bit different than that. On a 650 square foot addition, I have 6 24"x36" pages of structural details. All of it is inspected by the city or county, and by the structural engineer. The engineer also specs the diameter of the nails we use in every application. It gets complicated.

We don't have the seismic codes to worry about here, but we do have hurricane codes that aren't uniform statewide or agencywide (if working for city, county, state or feds).
That's the real pain.

How's the uniformity on your seismic codes?

 

[purbeast0]

stud finders are like $10 at home depot. why you would be mounting stuff to studs without one is beyond me.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, but cheap stud finders suck.

http://amzn.com/B0064EICKG

 

[purbeast0]

sorry, i guess i meant $20. i've had this one since i bought my house and never had issues.

http://www.amazon.com/Zircon-StudSensor-e50-Electronic-Finder/dp/B002R5AVVY

 

[Red Squirrel]

Do you have a wall that is somewhat centre of the house and runs pretty much the whole house with exception of openings? That wall is probably load bearing, so the studs will be perpendicular to that wall. At least it's a good way to guess, but you'll want to use a stud finder or find someone who has a thermal camera to know 100% for sure.

 

[DrPizza]

Horizontal: joists, beams
Vertical: studs

(And there are more terms - headers, sill plates, etc., but I'll just correct those two.)

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Do you have a wall that is somewhat centre of the house and runs pretty much the whole house with exception of openings? That wall is probably load bearing, so the studs will be perpendicular to that wall. At least it's a good way to guess, but you'll want to use a stud finder or find someone who has a thermal camera to know 100% for sure.

The wall in the pic is in the center of the house going in the same direction as the roofline. I'm going to pick up a stud finder this weekend sometime and know for sure. I suppose I can update the thread once I get it in case anyone's curious.

 

[stormkroe]

Horizontal: joists, beams
Vertical: studs

(And there are more terms - headers, sill plates, etc., but I'll just correct those two.)

Don't forget trusses. I love floor trusses, complete span without posts or load bearing walls. They're not much more than post, beam, and I-joist setups, but they free up your (usually basement) floor plan to be any layout without having to hide the posts. Also, you can get them made with 2x4 oriented flat, which has web openings large enough to contain HVAC ducting. No bulkheads required.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Don't forget trusses. I love floor trusses, complete span without posts or load bearing walls. They're not much more than post, beam, and I-joist setups, but they free up your (usually basement) floor plan to be any layout without having to hide the posts. Also, you can get them made with 2x4 oriented flat, which has web openings large enough to contain HVAC ducting. No bulkheads required.

Don`t forget the beer afterwards....

 

[stormkroe]

Don`t forget the beer afterwards....

You live too far way, unless you're into skype beering.