Looking for tips on locating studs on the outside of my home. Exterior is stucco. I need to mount some hardware and don’t want to have my wall looking like Swiss cheese during my search. I think I may have found one, but when I measure over 16” to find another...nothing. Home was built in early 2000’s if it makes a difference for where the studs may be placed on center.
I’ve tried measuring from a window and from the corner of the wall to no avail.

Thanks

CT

A stud finder may help. I've had mixed results in the past. If you have an outlet, you can remove the cover and determine which side the stud is on, then go 16" either way. If not, then locate the studs on the inside of the wall, then measure to a window or door. You can then transfer that measurement on the outside. Stud finders will most likely work much better on an interior wall.

Houses built in 2000's should definitely be on 16" centers. Areas where studs may be off of 16" center will be on the sides of doors & windows and in the area where a perpendicular wall is located. Check for studs that are away from these areas, and all other studs should line up on 16".

A thought - Can you first locate the studs on the inside, them transfer to the outside?

Windows, doors, and corners are often framed with multiple studs. A stud found near one of these may not be 16" from a central wall stud.

Edit: Dawg beat me to it.

Idea #2: Look at the blueprints for your house. Every home should come with blueprints.

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Originally posted by Eponym:
A thought - Can you first locate the studs on the inside, them transfer to the outside?

That's how I did it several years ago. Found a stud in the area I wanted on the inside of the house. Measured to that inside stud from a point visible from both inside and outside. (I used the edge of a pane of glass in the nearest window.) Then measured the same distance on the outside from that same reference point.

Can you borrow one of those IR viewers from the utility company that can be used to check for thermal leaks? That might show where the studs are from the outside.

I use a thermal imager for that. Turn on all of the electrical equipment and run the hot & cold water for a few minutes.

You will be able to see not only the studs, but the electrical and pressurized pipes as well. Outline your desired studs with a sharpie.

Fire fighter friend may be able to stop by with a NIFTI (temperature device that looks at and into walls for heat)...

 
I've used two methods. One is locating them inside and then transferring the measurement to a window or door to the outside. Just make sure you are measuring to the same point inside and outside. The edge of the drywall next to a door inside is usually not the same as the edge of the stucco outside the door. Two, I've taken the cover off an electrical outlet, see where it is nailed to the stud, then use my 8" long 1/8" drill bit right next to the stud to drill through to the outside, then use that hole as a reference point. An 1/8" hole outside is barely visible and easy to patch.
 
Once I've located one stud, and plotted where I "think" the others are, I use a 1/16" drill bit to verify the edges of the stud. This results in a few smaller holes which again are easy to patch.

I'm with those who suggested a FLIR camera or similar. You can usually rent them from tool rental places. How things should be built and how they are tend to be two different things.

Is it possible you exterior walls may be cement block? I live in a house built in 1999 with a stucco finish and my exterior walls are stucco on cement block. Just a thought.

quote:

Locating studs

You called?

Thanks for the help. Got it figured out.

CT