Hit the jackpot with a $5 tape measure trick at Meridian Mall

Used a laser measure for years until a maintenance guy at Meridian Mall showed me how to mark the back of the tape with chalk to find studs faster, what's your go-to shortcut for exploring dead malls?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor.betty26d ago

Did you see that video where someone used a magnet to find metal studs in abandoned malls? I heard it works way better than knocking on walls.

cole_mitchell826d ago

Actually, I gotta push back on this one @taylor.betty. I tried the magnet thing in an old Sears back in 2019 (the one near the Galleria, you know the one), and it was a total flop. The issue is that most abandoned malls have been stripped of their metal studs by scrappers or the drywall was replaced with cheap plastic anchors over the years. Knocking on walls might feel old school, but it actually tells you the density of the wall before you drill or cut, which is way more important than just finding a stud. Magnets also can't tell the difference between a stud and a random pipe or electrical box behind the drywall, so you're just as likely to hit something dangerous. Plus, if the mall has metal framing (common in 90s commercial builds), a magnet will stick to everything and give you false positives. Honestly, I'd rather rely on my ears and a decent stud finder than a fridge magnet that's more likely to pull paint off than find a safe spot.