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Use a stud finder. This is the simplest, most effective way to find studs. By sliding the stud finder across the wall, the stud finder will beep and/or light up when it crosses a stud.

If you don't have a stud finder, there are several methods that can be effective in finding studs. When a home is framed, the wall studs are usually spaced 16 or 24 inches apart. If you start in a corner and measure out 16 inches and you don't find a stud, you should find one at 24 inches.

You can also try holding a flashlight against a wall and looking down the wall to see if you can tell where two pieces of drywall meet. At that intersection, you'll definitely find a stud.

Look for light switches and electrical outlets, too. Those are usually mounted on the side of studs, so that's usually a good starting point for finding them.

When you think you've found a stud (if you're not using a stud finder), confirm it by driving a thin finishing nail through the drywall near the baseboard to see if you hit a stud.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Your wall is probably cracking because your home’s foundation is settling. A little settling over time is natural. You can repair those cracks without worrying too much more about them. But if you repair a crack and it comes back soon or gets worse, you might have studs in your wall or joists in your ceiling or floors that are damaged. That’s a structural problem and should be taken seriously.

For cracks, there are different processes for drywall and plaster. The vast majority of walls in modern homes are drywall (also called sheetrock). Drywall cracks require joint compound or spackling putty. Fill the crack and wait for the joint compound to dry. Sand it down with a very fine grit sandpaper, then put a second layer of compound on over the crack. Spread it evenly with the surface using a putty knife. This should blend the putty with your natural wall surface. Once it’s dry, sand that layer down to even out the surface and you’re ready to paint.

If you live in an older house that has plaster walls, the crack-filling process is a lot like sheetrock, but you may have to deal with securing a lathe board first. Lathe boards – what the plaster is spread over during initial construction of the walls – can separate from wall studs and make it seem as if you’re wall is warped. To reattach a lathe to a stud, simply hammer a few nails through the plaster and lathe. This may cause a few hairline cracks, but you’re there to fill cracks anyway. Once your lathe boards are secure again, use a putty knife to fill cracks with a small amount of plaster paste. You can find the paste in both powder and premixed forms at Westlake. Once your cracks are filled, sand and paint.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• Sand the surfaces that you’re putting together so that they’re both flat and free of gaps.

• Clean the surfaces with a clean rag. Don’t use water or a cleaning product.

• Spread a thin layer of glue over each surface evenly and completely, although not totally covering them. Too much glue will actually weaken the bond.

• Line up the two pieces of wood with the glue surfaces contacting each other.

• Clamp them immediately. You want the pressure to be firm, but not so much that it forces a lot of the glue out of the sides. Clamp down until a few drops of glue are squeezed out of the sides.

• Let those beads of glue dry for 20-30 minutes and then use a putty knife to clean them away from the wood. (Don’t use a wet rag. It will only spread the glue along the sides.)

• Let the glue cure for at least 24 hours before you remove the clamps.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Yes. Paneling nails come in a variety of colors and work with many different woods.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

A pry bar is more efficient than a claw hammer, and its smooth base keeps it from damaging the wall.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.