Pre-dry wall question

[C2 Turbo]

New construction and was wondering what's the best way of recording pre-dry wall stud positioning of wires/ducts etc

Shall I just take pictures but how I scale the distances?

Thanks

 

[Modern Jess]

I've used photos extensively, but it was after the fact and so I had no scale available. I was able to use various landmarks to figure out where stuff was, such as outlet locations, where the sink plumbing exited the wall, etc.

Simplest would be to stretch a tape measure across the wall, but you'd need a way to hold it in place and you'd need a reasonably high-res photo. Another option would be some kind of story pole with alternating one-foot painted sections. Or maybe just some painters tape wrapped around at one foot intervals?

 

[Boomer343]

I've done it a few times. Trick is to be consistent so I start in the same corner of the room each time and work clockwise then do the ceiling from the same corner left to right. You can get a good idea where things are by the stud spacing. Make sure to overlap the photos. You will usually find that good trades are consistent about where they do runs etc.

I did try video once but it doesn't give the detail I wanted.

 

[dfiler2]

Wires should be deep enough or protected with metal plates so you don't need to worry about hitting them. I've never seen ductwork get in the way, not sure how it would. As far as marking the studs or rafters, for the ceiling go around and mark where the center of the rafter cords are on the top wall plate. You can mark the center of the studs on the floor and ceiling.

Unless you want a record for locating something in the future I'm not sure what the pictures would be for. If I were to do that I would take pictures while someone was holding a tape measure for reference.

 

[toomany]

Grab a piece of rope and a notebook. Stretch the rope out tight from wall to wall. Use colored markers to mark studs, outlets, ducts, etc... Or use tape and a Sharpie. Record your measurements in the notebook. Label each rope to each wall. Coil up and place in a five gallon bucket and stash out of the way when you are done.

 

[Jackfre]

I took a permanent magic marker and marked both sides of each stud. I have a 6" tall concrete wall exposed below the framing and that is where I made the marks. I wouldn't hesitate to mark the floor. You could also put a "nail plate" vertically at the base of each stud. A rare earth magnet will pick it up through the rock.

 

[Cyberbear]

If you want this for future reference, it's not that difficult. Take pictures of each wall after all interior items are put into place. Buy a good digital stud and conduit/circuit finder for double checking after the walls are covered. You can also use the simple method of locating a couple of known studs, inserting a nail and stretching a measuring tape with stud centers printed thereon. You really shouldn't need any more than that to locate what you need to know. This has worked well for me over the years.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

We take pics before insulation goes in. You can tell a lot from stud spacing, but in a busy wall a tape layed out across the wall doesn't hurt. We'll shoot the whole wall, then get close ups of the tape & important locations.

We use anti-nail plates, but sometimes it helps when a change is made late or after a project completes. Or when someone misses the stud (even with the nail plate) & hits a pipe/wire next to the stud. I've only seen it once with a miss installing siding, but it helped in the planning when the wall had to be opened for the fix. Water can run crazy places & knowing exactly where the pipe was made the job easier. Thru the cabinet back in the only spot where it could have hit made for an easy patch.

 

[C2 Turbo]

This is what I came up with and seems to be working out fine.

For future reference, however I would like to get a longer and a wider tape so that it's easily measurable and visible

In the picture below, though the measurements are hard to see, but as I am able to zoom them in, it works fine for me


Thanks to all who took time and responded to my post

 

[MarkG]

In the trades, we simply mark stud location on the floor. Mark a line at the left edge of stud and 'X' to the right of it. This is standard. If you mark the 'center', you're guessing! That's why we do it this way. You can SEE where the edge is and you know you have 1.5" to the right from there.

After drywall is up, if you wish you can use a 6' level to lightly draw the 'edge line' as a guide, but most guys can eyeball it and hit the studs.

Also make notes on floor where NOT to put screws-----loc. of pipes, etc. Usually, you're doing one sheet at a time so a quick glance before fastening it up should be all you need along with your floor marks. Shouldn't be a need for photos if you mark things out correctly and are observant as you put each sheet up.

 

[snowman3]

Grab a piece of rope and a notebook. Stretch the rope out tight from wall to wall. Use colored markers to mark studs, outlets, ducts, etc... Or use tape and a Sharpie. Record your measurements in the notebook. Label each rope to each wall. Coil up and place in a five gallon bucket and stash out of the way when you are done.

That's a good idea! To the OP: do a mix of video and still pictures. I mainly use the pictures but video is easier to walk around and get many angles of the same group of studs. Take pictures at lots of different angles. Climb a ladder into the attic and take pictures looking downward on teh rafters, etc. THis will be your view when standing in the attic. We did lots of pics and there are still angles where I can't see where the wires are routed.

I created separate high def videos for each category. One day I traced all the electrical, next time all the ductwork, next time all the plumbing, etc.

The neat thing about video is that you can call out what you see, measure, etc. Esp if you have a helper.

 

[snowman3]

forgot to mention, I had a few paper printouts of the floorplan and drew some notes on where elec outlets were positioned, # of studs for each wall, etc. A few measurements on outlet locations, etc. Now the hassle is that I have a bazillion pictures and have to sift through all of them to find what I'm looking for.

 

[Kevin54]

Photos......but if you have a block foundation, look at the stud location in relationship to the blocks. The blocks are 16" long, and the studs are 16" on center. It makes it an easy way to locate them.

If you have a solid poured foundation, score a line at the center of the stud into the concrete on the vertical stem wall, then you will always have a reference point. Or if you can't do neither, make a folder for your desktop on the computer, then add notes to the pics before you save them to the folder. You may have to do it in paint before you save them. Next.....have a tape measure up from a corner to the studs, and snap a pic. First a close-up where the first stud is located, then step back a short, and snap another pic showing stud centers.

Lastly, make a physical folder that you can keep in your desk or somewhere in the house, with all of the pics, dimensions showing, and so on. Then you can always reference back to it if the need arises. This is probably the best way as if your computer ever crashes, or if you buy a new computer, you may accidently forget to transfer the files over. Don't ask how I know that.

 

[The Cobbler]

Kind of off topic, but kind of on topic, and not to hijack the thread, but I find often the electrical boxes are nailed to the right side of the stud as you face it. reason is that most people are right handed and you hold the box in your left hand and fasten it with your right hand.

 

[csp]

If you have a solid poured foundation, score a line at the center of the stud into the concrete on the vertical stem wall, then you will always have a reference point.

That's exactly what I did. I had used a Sharpie originally to mark the locations, but had to have something else when the stem wall was painted. I cut a groove with an angle grinder and stone/concrete cutoff wheel.