I totally get the cartoon mouse hole thing—been there, patched that. I’ve tried those plastic anchors too, but they just seem to make a mess in old plaster. French cleats sound promising, though I haven’t used them yet. Has anyone tried those adhesive hooks for lighter stuff? I’m always worried they’ll just peel paint or take half the wall with them...
Adhesive hooks are a bit of a gamble on old plaster, honestly. If the paint’s not bonded well, they’ll sometimes take a chunk off when you pull them. I’ve had better luck with them on newer drywall, but even then, only for really lightweight stuff—think keys, maybe a calendar. For anything heavier, I’d stick with cleats or try to find a stud. If you do use adhesive hooks, press them on for a good 30 seconds and let them set overnight before hanging anything. Still, always test in an out-of-the-way spot first... learned that the hard way.
If the paint’s not bonded well, they’ll sometimes take a chunk off when you pull them.
Yeah, that’s the worst. I’ve had those adhesive strips rip off paint *and* a bit of plaster before—total mess. For anything with real weight, I just go straight for a screw into a stud or use a French cleat. Adhesive hooks are fine for super light stuff, but honestly, I don’t trust them for anything else, especially on old walls. If you’re worried about load distribution, spreading the weight across two hooks helps a bit, but it’s still risky on crumbly plaster.
French cleats are my go-to too—way less drama than patching up torn plaster. I’ve tried those “damage-free” strips and, yeah, ended up with a chunk of wall in my hand. Old houses just don’t play nice with adhesives. If I can’t hit a stud, I’ll use those heavy-duty anchors, but even then, I cross my fingers. Sometimes it feels like the walls are held together by hope and old paint...
Sometimes it feels like the walls are held together by hope and old paint...
Couldn’t agree more—old plaster is a wild card. French cleats really are the unsung heroes for tricky walls. Anchors help, but honestly, nothing beats spreading out the load. I’ve seen too many “miracle” adhesives fail miserably. You’re definitely not alone in this struggle.
