I'm going to install a small loft platform above the stairs in this picture.
The most secure way would be to drill into the studs behind the paneling here, but i'm not sure about the wiring thats going into the walls here. Is it safe to drill into one or both of these walls? Do people have guesses as to where this wire is going and how to avoid it?
Also: I think i'll be able to find studs in this wall by measuring 16" intervals from a nearby door frame (i'm also planning on getting a stud finder to check, though the wood paneling may obscure this somewhat)
I could add legs to the platform that reach all the way to the steps below, but it seems like this wouldn't be as stable. The longer of the legs would be ~10' long.
Thanks for the sanity check. Thoughts?
Best Answer
The wood will be nailed to the studs. A strong magnet will find the nails if your eyes can't manage that due to paint. A line of nails indicates a stud. This is far more reliable than most studfinders on a board wall.
If the wiring is to done to code, screws 2" long should be safe, so long as you stop drilling if you hit metal. Wiring is supposed to be at least 1-1/2" from the face of the stud or protected by a steel plate. Add the thickness of the boards over and 2" screws should be safe. If someone installed wiring improperly, that might not be true, and that is an unknowable unknown.
The wire in the conduit is 90+% likely running between studs to the light switch seen in the first picture. That would put it at low odds of being run through the studs horizontally.