Why does load distribution always trip me up?

Now I always overthink load distribution, but honestly, sometimes you just have to accept that old plaster is gonna do what it wants.

I get where you're coming from, but I’d argue it’s worth mapping out the studs behind those old walls if you can. Plaster’s unpredictable, but a stud finder (even a cheap one) can save a lot of patchwork later. For heavier pieces, I usually recommend French cleats - they spread the weight and are surprisingly forgiving on uneven surfaces. Still, sometimes you just cross your fingers and hope the wall gods are in a good mood...

I’ve had stud finders totally misread old lath and plaster, though - sometimes they’re just useless on those walls. Ever tried toggles or molly bolts for medium-weight stuff? They’ve saved me when studs were nowhere to be found. French cleats are solid, but I get nervous if the wall’s already crumbly...

French cleats are solid, but I get nervous if the wall’s already crumbly...

Yeah, lath and plaster can be a real wild card. I’ve opened up walls that looked fine, only to find the plaster barely hanging on. Toggles have bailed me out more than once, but even then, I always give the wall a few good taps - if it sounds hollow or flakes off, I start sweating. Sometimes you just gotta accept that some walls weren’t meant for heavy stuff.

Honestly, I’ve had more than a few projects where I thought a French cleat would be perfect, only to hit that lath and plaster lottery. Once, I tried hanging a big mirror in a 1920s house - looked sturdy, but the first anchor just chewed right through. Ended up patching and moving it to a stud instead. Sometimes you just gotta accept defeat and rethink the plan. Load distribution’s one thing, but if the wall’s sketchy, even the best hardware can’t save you.

Sometimes you just gotta accept defeat and rethink the plan. Load distribution’s one thing, but if the wall’s sketchy, even the best hardware can’t save you.

Couldn’t agree more about old plaster walls being unpredictable. I’ve tried toggles, mollies, you name it - sometimes it’s like hanging stuff on a cracker. I still get tempted by those “perfect” French cleat solutions, but if the wall’s not up to it, studs are the only safe bet. Sometimes you just have to patch up and move on... literally.