Had a similar issue once—turns out the plaster was just too brittle for toggles. But honestly, I've used snap toggles plenty of times in drywall and they've held up great, even for heavier shelves. Maybe it's more about knowing your wall material than the toggles themselves? Still, anchoring directly to studs is always gonna be the safest bet if you can manage it.
"Maybe it's more about knowing your wall material than the toggles themselves?"
Yeah, totally agree with this. I've found that toggles can be hit or miss depending on the plaster quality and age. Had a similar headache renovating an older property—ended up just biting the bullet and anchoring straight into studs. But hey, congrats on the earthquake-proofing! It's always satisfying when your prep work actually holds up under real conditions...sounds like you're doing something right.
Good points—still learning a lot here as I go. Couple questions for those who know more:
- How do you reliably tell if the plaster's good enough for toggles without just trial and error?
- If anchoring to studs is the safest bet, is there any downside to relying on studs every time?
I haven't had to deal with earthquake-proofing yet, but I figure getting the basics right now could save me some headaches later...
"If anchoring to studs is the safest bet, is there any downside to relying on studs every time?"
Honestly, studs aren't always as foolproof as people think. Sure, they're solid, but spacing can be inconsistent in older homes, and sometimes they're not exactly where you need them. I've run into plenty of situations where toggles or even specialized anchors ended up being more practical. Also, plaster quality varies a ton—sometimes tapping gently or drilling a small pilot hole can give you a decent sense before committing fully...
I totally get what you're saying about studs not always being the perfect solution. When I was putting up shelves in my old place, I ran into exactly that issue—studs were spaced weirdly and nowhere near where I needed them. Ended up using heavy-duty toggle bolts instead, and honestly, they've held up great even through a couple minor quakes. Sometimes flexibility and practicality beat the textbook "best practice," especially if you're working on a tight budget like me...
