Plaster and lath just don’t inspire confidence for heavy loads, no matter how you try to spread the weight.
Can’t argue with that—plaster’s got a mind of its own. I once watched a 40-lb mirror slowly tilt forward over weeks until it just... gave up. Long screws into studs are my go-to now. French cleats look clean, but I only trust them if I can guarantee every screw’s biting into solid wood. Anchors in plaster? Only if you want to practice your patching skills later.
Anchors in plaster? Only if you want to practice your patching skills later.
That made me laugh—been there, patched that. Ever tried toggles with a big washer behind the lath? Sometimes I wonder if it’s overkill, but at least I sleep better. Anyone else get nervous about old walls shifting over time?
Load distribution gets me every time too. I once tried hanging a pretty hefty mirror in a 1920s rental—thought I had it figured out with those heavy-duty toggles. Next tenant called about a “thump in the night.” Turns out, the lath shifted just enough over a few months that the whole thing came down. Now I’ll use toggles, washers, and still cross my fingers. Old plaster always seems to have a mind of its own...
Old plaster always seems to have a mind of its own...
That’s the truth. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve mapped out every stud, used every toggle and anchor in the book, and still had to cross my fingers. Honestly, with these older walls, toggles only go so far—sometimes I’ll add a plywood backer behind the wall if I know I’m hanging something heavy. It’s a hassle, but worth it for peace of mind. The unpredictability of lath and plaster just never gets old...
I keep running into the same thing—old plaster just doesn’t play by the rules. I’ve tried those “super-strong” anchors that supposedly hold 100 lbs, but half the time, the lath crumbles or the anchor just spins in place. Ever had that happen? Drives me nuts.
Once, I was hanging a big mirror and thought I’d done everything right—stud finder, toggles, the whole nine yards. Next morning, it was on the floor (thankfully didn’t shatter), and there was a chunk of plaster with it. Since then, I’m way more cautious about trusting anchors alone. Plywood backer is a pain but honestly, it’s the only thing that’s worked for me when weight’s involved.
Does anyone else ever feel like you’re guessing more than actually engineering a solution with these old walls? Sometimes I wonder if there’s a trick I’m missing or if it’s just always going to be a gamble...