How to Determine Which Walls You Have Behind Cladding
Before you hang pictures or other items on a wall , it’s a good idea to know whether it’s made of drywall, plaster , or another material. This is a little more difficult to understand if the wall is covered with panels. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to help you determine what’s hiding behind the paneling.
Remove the outlet cover or faceplate.
Removing the wall outlet panel is one way to see what’s behind your wall sheathing without causing major disruption, says Jonathan Klemm, general contractor and co-founder of Quality Builders . “Even if a property has gone through numerous changes, those original fundamental elements are usually still present,” Josh Rudin, owner of ASAP Restoration , tells me. But as Klemm points out, the outlet may be mounted on an electrical box, so the material inside may not match the entire wall.
Knocking on the wall
This isn’t necessarily the most accurate method, but tapping on the wall sheathing can give you some idea of what’s behind it. “Listen for differences in sound,” says Klemm. “Hollow sounds may indicate drywall, while hard sounds may indicate plaster or other material.”
Use the stud finder
While a stud finder won’t tell you exactly what’s behind your wall sheathing, Rudin says it can provide valuable clues. “If you have metal or wood studs, the stud sensor will be able to at least center them so you know what spacing you’re working with,” he explains.
Hit the wall with a golf ball
You can also find studs under the panels by tapping the wall with a golf ball, Rudin says. “Sections that have a tenon, either wood or metal behind the faceplate, will sound different than sections that have nothing behind the faceplate.”