THE HANDY MAN HOW TO FIND A STUD Studfinders — the tool that spawned a thousand easy jokes — aren’t expensive, but why depend on a gadget when you can find the stud yourself? Studs are the vertical beams that support walls, and they provide support when mounting decorations, TV screens or to anchor heavy furniture. There should be a stud on either side of each window, as well as beside electrical boxes for switches and outlets. Another giveaway is to look where any nails have been hammered into the molding, as they’re usually driven into the stud. Studs tend to be set every 16 or 24 inches around the room, so once you’ve found one you can measure the rest. To check, you can sound out where the studs are: when you tap the wall, it will mostly have a slightly hollow sound — but it will sound noticeably denser where there’s a stud.
SPACKLE A HOLE OR SCUFF
Nothing mars your man-cave more than the unsightly holes and bumps that result from relocating or removing your wall art. To keep your pad looking good, get in the habit of keeping spackle, a putty knife and paint around. First, clean up any loose bits or anything that sticks out from the hole you want to fix. Spread a bit of spackle over the hole using the putty knife, pressing hard to lay a thin, smooth layer — spackle shrinks, so it’s OK if there’s a little extra over the hole. Let it dry a few hours, and if needed, apply a second layer. Smooth the spackle with a fine-grade sandpaper until it’s flush with the rest of the wall, then paint over the damaged area.
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