I totally get the plywood “cheat”—honestly, it’s more like future-proofing than cheating in my book. Ancient plaster is just a wild card. I swear, every time I drill into it, it’s like spinning a roulette wheel: sometimes you hit something solid, sometimes you’re basically in dust.
Stud finders... yeah, mixed feelings. I’ve had them tell me there’s a stud, and then it turns out to be a pipe (fun surprise). I usually end up doing the old knock-and-drill test anyway. As for load distribution, I always remind clients that spreading out the weight—even if it means using more anchors or a longer bracket—makes all the difference with these old walls. Sometimes I’ll use French cleats for heavier stuff; they’re a bit of work but way more forgiving if your wall isn’t perfectly flat or your studs are weirdly spaced.
Honestly, overkill just feels like insurance at this point. Better than waking up to shattered dishes at 3am...
I get the logic behind overkill, but sometimes I think it’s easy to go too far and end up making more holes than you need. Here’s my take:
- Plywood is solid, but patching it later can be a pain if you ever want to change things up. I’ve had buyers cringe at the idea of “hidden” plywood when they’re trying to run new wiring or plumbing.
- French cleats are awesome, but in some old houses, the walls are so wavy that getting them to sit flush is its own project. I’ve found toggle bolts (the big metal ones) are actually underrated for plaster—less fuss, more grip, and you don’t have to find a stud at all.
- Stud finders... yeah, I’ve hit pipes too. Sometimes I just drill a tiny pilot hole and poke around with a wire. Not elegant, but better than flooding the kitchen.
I guess my point is: sometimes simple is better, especially if you’re not planning to hang a safe or a vintage cast iron sink. Overkill is great until you want to move stuff around and realize you’ve built Fort Knox in your dining room.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve walked into more than one “bunker” situation where someone went nuts with plywood or a million anchors, and then I’m the one cursing when it’s time to swap out a light fixture or run a new cable. It’s like, yeah, that shelf was never going anywhere, but neither is my patience after patching all those holes.
I’ve had good luck with toggle bolts too—especially in old plaster where studs are a myth and the walls are basically history projects. French cleats look great on paper, but if your wall’s got more waves than the beach, you end up chasing your tail just trying to get them to sit right.
Honestly, I think you nailed it: unless you’re hanging something truly heavy, simple fasteners and a little common sense go a long way. Overkill sounds smart until you’re sweating through drywall dust for no real reason. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough.
Man, I hear you on the “bunker” approach. When I first tried to hang a TV, I thought more anchors meant more security... ended up with a wall that looked like Swiss cheese and a bracket that was still crooked. Live and learn, right? Now I just find a stud (if I can), use decent fasteners, and call it good. Unless you’re mounting a safe or something, there’s no need to turn your wall into Fort Knox. Sometimes less really is more.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ll admit—I’m still a little paranoid about wall mounts. Here’s my take:
- Studs are great… when you can find them. But in my old house, the studs are never where I need them. Like, ever.
- Drywall anchors? They make me nervous. Maybe it’s just flashbacks to that time my shelf “gently relocated” itself to the floor at 3am.
- I actually like spreading out the load with more (eco-friendly) anchors, especially for heavier stuff. Not Fort Knox-level, but just enough so I don’t wake up to a surprise crash.
Totally agree you don’t need to go overboard, but sometimes those extra holes feel like cheap insurance—especially if you’ve got unpredictable plaster or crumbly drywall. I guess it’s all about finding that sweet spot between Swiss cheese and “hope and a prayer.”
