Man, you nailed it—plaster walls are a whole different beast. I’ve had my fair share of “oops” moments, especially when you think you’ve hit a stud and it’s just crumbly nothing. French cleats are genius, though. I’m a big fan of toggles too, but even then, sometimes you just have to embrace a little imperfection. At the end of the day, I’d rather have a slightly crooked frame than a pile of broken glass on the floor.
Yeah, plaster walls are like a box of chocolates—never know what you’re gonna get. I’ve tried to use anchors that were “guaranteed” to hold, only to watch them spin in place like a bad carnival ride. French cleats are solid, but sometimes I just cross my fingers and hope the wall gods are feeling generous. Honestly, if it’s not falling off the wall, I call it a win.
Honestly, if it’s not falling off the wall, I call it a win.
That’s pretty much my motto at this point. Plaster walls are a gamble—sometimes you hit a stud, sometimes you just end up with a handful of dust and regret. I’ve had better luck spreading out the weight with two or three smaller anchors instead of one big one. It’s not fancy, but hey, if it saves me from patching another crater in the wall, I’ll take it.
sometimes you just end up with a handful of dust and regret
That line sums up plaster walls better than any manual I’ve read. Here’s the thing—load distribution is tricky, but you’re on the right track spreading out the weight. I’ve patched enough holes to know that “one big anchor” is usually just an invitation for disaster, especially in old houses where the lath behind the plaster is anyone’s guess.
- Multiple smaller anchors = less stress on any one spot.
- If you can find a stud, great. If not, toggle bolts or molly bolts are my go-to.
- Sometimes I’ll use a thin plywood backer behind the wall if I’m hanging something heavy—spreads out the force even more.
Honestly, if it’s holding and you’re not waking up to a crash in the middle of the night, you’re winning. Don’t sweat it if it’s not pretty behind the scenes... most of us are just trying to avoid another round of spackle and sanding.
That “handful of dust and regret” line hit me right in the feels—been there too many times. I once tried to hang a vintage mirror on a 1920s wall, convinced a single beefy anchor would do it. Spoiler: it did not. Ended up with a crater and a shattered ego. Now I always overthink load distribution, but honestly, sometimes you just have to accept that old plaster is gonna do what it wants. If it holds, I call it a win and move on.
