- Been there with plaster walls—total headache.
- In one of my rentals, I tried those heavy-duty anchors and literally watched the art piece slowly tilt down over a week… not fun.
- Ended up using a combo of long screws into the studs (found with a magnet, like you said) and distributing weight with wire.
- Sometimes, I’ll just avoid heavy stuff on those walls altogether if I can.
- Honestly, it always feels like a bit of trial and error—no shame in patching up a few holes along the way.
Honestly, I’ve had better luck with those old-school picture rails than any anchor or screw. My house is from the 1920s, and the walls are basically a dare—“Go ahead, try to hang something heavy, see what happens.” I get the appeal of finding studs, but sometimes they’re nowhere near where you want your art. I’ve patched more holes than I care to admit.
But here’s the thing—avoiding heavy stuff isn’t always necessary. If you use those little hooks that grab the plaster (not just the lath), they can hold more than you’d think. I once hung a mirror that weighed more than my dog, and it’s still up... knock on wood. Trial and error is part of the charm, right? Or maybe that’s just what I tell myself when I’m spackling at midnight.
Yeah, those picture rails are a lifesaver in these old houses. I swear, half the time I try to find a stud, I end up hitting some weird void or a chunk of brick—never where I actually want to hang anything. I’ve used those plaster hooks too, and honestly, they’re way sturdier than people give them credit for. Still, I get nervous with anything that’s got real heft. Maybe it’s just years of watching stuff slowly tilt or crash down. At this point, I just trust the rails and avoid the drama.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. Those old walls are like a box of surprises—never know what you’ll hit behind the plaster. I’ve had my fair share of “is this thing gonna hold?” moments with heavy stuff. Honestly, picture rails are underrated. I used to be skeptical about those little hooks too, but they’ve held up way better than expected. Still, if it’s something with real weight, I’m right there with you—better safe than sorry. Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles and trust what works.
- Been there with the “is this wall even solid?” feeling.
- Last year, tried to hang a big mirror—stud finder lied, hit nothing but crumbly plaster.
- Ended up using toggle bolts. Not pretty, but it’s still up.
- Picture rails are cool, but I’m always nervous with anything over 10 lbs.
- Sometimes I just lean heavy stuff against the wall and call it a day... saves patching holes later.
