Mounting things to plaster question.

[Chris142]

The walls in my house are plaster I Think anyway. It's like weak cement that turns to powder if drilled.

When I hang light weight things I use those plastic inserts you put a screw in and that holds ok.

I need to hang something heavier.
How do I do that correctly?

 

[JHZR2]

Plaster on wood lathe? On gypsum under structure? Something else?

I’d start with toggle. Lots, or the plastic equivalent that expand out on the back of the wall… though depending upon how the plaster fingers go, they may not reach properly.

 

[Lubener]

I would use a zip toggle (also called snap toggles). Unlike the spring loaded toggles, you can remove the bolt on these for wall painting and not lose the metal piece behind the wall.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/TOGGLER-10...e-Bolt-Drywall-Anchor-Screws-Included/3183831

 

[facility1]

or use a good stud finder and use a construction screw to mount your stuff on. as mentioned, or a 3/16 toggle bolt will work too, nutting it so the head and part if the screw sticks out and a washer against the wall.

 

[Nick1994]

If you’ve got plaster and lath, you can use a good strong little magnet and move it around the wall and find the little nails that hold up the lath so you can find a stud.

Stud finders don’t work too good in my 1950 house, so I use the magnet method.

 

[barbersurgeon]

Do you have picture board trim at the top of the wall?

 

[Chris142]

Do you have picture board trim at the top of the wall?

No

I would use a zip toggle (also called snap toggles). Unlike the spring loaded toggles, you can remove the bolt on these for wall painting and not lose the metal piece behind the wall.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/TOGGLER-10...e-Bolt-Drywall-Anchor-Screws-Included/3183831

Those pull right through and leave huge holes.

Plaster on wood lathe? On gypsum under structure? Something else?

I don't know what these are. As I said It looks like cement when drilled. It's about 1.25 inches thick. There is nothing on the back side and I do not know how it was put on originally as it makes no sense to me how it stayed without just slathering out.