If you’re patching up holes anyway, I’d go for proper anchors for anything you care about, even if it’s a pain.
Yeah, I hear you on that. Anchors are a hassle but man, they save so much headache in the long run. I’ve had tenants call me about stuff falling off walls more times than I can count—usually after they tried those “damage-free” strips. Humidity definitely messes with adhesives too. Sometimes it feels like every wall is a new adventure... but hey, at least we’re learning what *not* to trust with our favorite art.
Yeah, anchors are a pain, but I’ve learned the hard way that drywall just isn’t meant to hold much on its own. Even those “heavy duty” adhesive strips have let me down—literally—especially in older houses where the paint’s not great or there’s a bit of moisture. My go-to now is toggles or molly bolts for anything over a couple pounds. If you’re dealing with plaster, that’s a whole other beast... sometimes I’ll pre-drill and use a sleeve anchor just to be safe. It’s wild how much difference the right anchor makes, even if it means patching a few extra holes later.
Load distribution is one of those things that seems simple in theory, but in practice, every wall throws you a curveball. I’ve lost count of how many times I thought a “heavy duty” anchor would do the job, only to find it pulling out of crumbly drywall or plaster months later. You’re definitely right about toggles and molly bolts—they’re my go-to for anything remotely heavy these days.
I’ve even had anchors fail when the load was technically under their weight rating, just because the force wasn’t spread out enough or the wall itself was in rough shape. It’s wild how unpredictable old construction can be—sometimes you hit a stud right where you need it, other times it’s just endless void behind the plaster.
Have you ever tried using a mounting plate or French cleat to spread the load? I’ve had better luck with those for shelving and big frames, especially in places where patching isn’t easy. Curious if anyone’s found a trick for hanging stuff on lath and plaster without making a mess... that’s always my headache.
Mounting plates and French cleats have definitely saved my bacon more than once—especially with our old house, where the walls are basically a history lesson in failed repair attempts. I’ve had the same thing happen with “heavy duty” anchors just crumbling out of the plaster like it’s a stale cookie. It’s wild how you can do everything by the book and still end up patching holes.
For lath and plaster, I’ve had some luck using those long screws meant for electrical boxes, going all the way through the lath and grabbing whatever wood is back there. Not perfect, but better than watching your bookshelf slowly tilt over the months. I tried adhesive hooks once—never again. Peeled paint and a chunk of plaster came off with the frame. Honestly, sometimes it feels like hanging stuff in these old places takes more creativity than actual skill. If only the walls could just cooperate for once...
Honestly, I feel this in my bones. Hanging anything in a house with lath and plaster is like a weird mix of archaeology and gambling—you never know what you'll find behind the paint. I’ve had to get creative too; once, I ended up building a sort of “floating” gallery wall using picture rail molding because I just couldn’t trust the walls anymore. It actually turned out looking pretty cool, but it was more of a workaround than a solution.
I do wonder, have you ever tried toggles or molly bolts in your walls? I keep hearing mixed things—some swear by them, others say they just make bigger craters when they fail. I’m always nervous about making an irreversible mess, especially with original plaster that’s already seen better days. It feels like every old house has its own secret rules for what will actually hold up. Ever found a method that surprised you by actually working?
