how to hang things on plaster walls

Even more so if you live in an old house with plaster and lath walls. To secure heavy items on plaster walls, use screws that are 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. He has a BS in Business Administration from the San Francisco State University and his Certificate in Industrial Electronics Technology from North Seattle College. Step 1 Place a stud finder over the wall to locate an internal … The wood lath behind the plaster is strong and can support up to 25 lbs of … Now that you know what tools are good to have at your disposal, let’s dive into the specifics! Sadly, all those methods are the absolute wrong approach for plaster walls and could damage the plaster … There are a number of anchors available, all rated by how much weight they can hold. If you keep getting resistance after drilling … These self tapping anchors don’t work on hard plaster walls. Standard picture hanger hooks … With your painter’s tape, rip off a piece and poke a hole in the middle of it with the pencil. Stud finders rarely work on plaster, but you can find the studs using the magnet trick. Plaster is hard, so you will feel some resistance. A word of caution, avoid the drywall anchors that are made to be installed without drilling. Position the nail … Step 2 If you are hanging small … When that happens, I am stuck using anchors. Keep measuring, leveling, and installing screws until you have them all in position. Ready to hang your pictures? http://thecraftsmanblog.com/how-to-hang-things-on-plaster-walls/, https://www.hunker.com/13410984/how-to-hang-heavy-objects-on-plaster-walls, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This is the standard distance between studs, but it can vary widely. We recently moved into an older home with some plaster walls – we’ve learned the hard way about hanging up decorations around the house with nails and screws! Pre-drill the holes, and use fairly long screws to ensure a secure fit. I can still give you some great ideas for hanging on plaster walls. Pictures were hung on longer wires or cord to whatever height preferred by the homeowner and hung on small hooks that latched onto the picture rail. Required fields are marked *. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It’s important not just to make the decorating process simpler, but to also avoid costly damage. LOL.) Have someone help you with the hanging if the object is very heavy or cumbersome. For lighter items, simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1/4” drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done. Screws are your ultimate option for hanging things on plaster walls … "Studs are the framing that hold the wall up. Use a magnetic stud finder … To put any anchor into plaster, you’ll need to drill first. Ripe off a slightly longer strip of painters tape and fold it in … Anchors aren’t my favorite because they require you to drill larger holes into plaster, but it is a reality of life in an old home. Answer + 7. Make sure you leave half an inch out of the wall so you have space to hang your artwork. ", When asked, "How does a drywall anchor work? Hammering nails into plaster is a quick way to knock plaster loose from the lath that is supporting it. I’m a general contractor working in historic restoration, a #1 Amazon best selling author, and I’m here to show you how you can do-it-yourself! This will provide more security for heavier items. Damage may not be visible instantly, but as plaster comes loose from the lath, it will eventually begin to fall off the wall. It's actually not too hard to hang things on plaster walls, however, as long as you use screws and work slowly and carefully. For lighter items, simply screwing into the plaster … First thing: Put away the hammer. That resistance may increase if the drill enters the lathe (the wooden support that holds up the plaster). I have an old house with plaster walls. Put a small bit into the drill, and drill into the first mark. Jeff Huynh is the General Manager of Handyman Rescue Team, a full service solution in home services, renovations, and repair in the Greater Seattle area. Rather than applying the tape to the wall, attach one side of the tape directly to what you want to hang first. It has a wonderful purpose and that is to protect your walls and make your life easier. Install the screws as you did for the first anchor. There are a few things that make the two different, especially related to attaching things to your walls. Screws (and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items) are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. Use heavy-duty hardware. How to Hang Things on a Stone Wall. So if you have plaster walls in your home and you want to hang a picture, you need to take into consideration that the walls are sensitive. The painter's tape will help keep the plaster from cracking when you drill into it. I’ll note that my experience is specifically with hanging things in drywall. Everything from how to find a stud in plaster walls to what type of fasteners your should use is different. Put a small bit into the drill, and drill … Tools Required To Hang The TV. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Along that line, mark the height where you actually want to hang the object on a piece of painter's tape. Here’s how it works: The picture rail is nailed to the studs, giving it better holding strength and was installed toward the top of the wall. Once you’ve got everything hung just where you want it and your husband or wife decides it needs to be rearranged, you can always fill small holes with spackle or even add some sand to the spackle to help it blend into sanded texture plaster. Luckily, items can be hung from plaster walls, and in some cases, it’s easier to hang things from plaster walls than it is drywall. 2. Find a stud, if you can. Jeff Huynh is the General Manager of Handyman Rescue Team, a full service solution in home services, renovations, and repair in the Greater Seattle area. Use a level to fine-tune the placement of your object. 2. Picture rail works great for most decorations, but don’t try hanging extremely heavy items from it. This article has been viewed 51,600 times. This is also a rental house, so we want to avoid putting any large holes in the wall with anchors. For instance, a screw that is 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) wide may have an anchor that is 0.3 inches (0.76 cm) wide. If you miss, back the screw out and move the screw up (or down) about 1/2” and you’re sure to find the lath. These systems, like the STAS rail system, are PERFECT for plaster wall hanging. You may not notice the damage, but as plaster comes loose from the lath, it will eventually begin to sag and soon fall off the wall if the sagging continues unchecked. For more tips from our Home Improvement co-author, including how to install shelving in a plaster wall, read on! Hanging Heavy Objects 1. Set a level on the line made by your tape measure to make sure the second anchor will be even with the first. Unfortunately, it seems that every time I need to hang something heavy, there is never a stud where I need one. If you want the objects to sit at different heights, measure up or down from the second mark. Then use a measuring tape to make a straight line going up the wall from this spot. If you don’t have picture rail or don’t want to install some, that’s just fine. Heavier items need more support, and so I recommend screwing into a stud with a 2” screw. However, you should use screws with anchors to be more secure. If you find a stud, mark the spot on the wall. If you have plaster walls, follow these general guidelines: For pictures weighing less than five pounds, use an adhesive hook or Velcro strip. They are probably about 5 pounds maximum, but I’m worried about hanging them on a plaster wall with the cats jumping and running across them. Your email address will not be published. Screws (and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items) are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. … A heavy object like a TV has to be anchored to the wood support … Most stud finders will light up when they find a stud. For instance, drive a screw into the strip on the spot just above where you want to hang a picture. Drywall is usually 1/2” thick, compared to historic plaster, which can range from 3/4” to just over 1” thick. To hang heavier items, use screws that are at least 2 inches long. Attach one end of a wire to the screw, and the other end to the hook on the back of the picture. Most of the handy devices for hanging things on our walls were designed for drywall, not plaster. Don’t confuse this little piece of molding at the top of your wall for some kind of miniature crown molding. Hanging things on plaster walls is easy if you have a drill and screws. Picture rail was installed to give you a place to hang things like mirrors, art, pictures and anything else you want to decorate your walls with without putting holes in your plaster. Measure the spot on the wall where the screw will go and mark an X. Hanging pictures on plaster walls . You can hang it by a wire or string or by a mount on the back of the frame. You can usually tell when you hit the lath because the screw will grab better. Plaster is a very durable way to cover walls, but its strength is also a downside when you’re hanging things around your home. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. It’s actually not too hard to hang things on plaster walls, however, as long as you use screws and work slowly and carefully. % of people told us that this article helped them. This made the pictures easily movable left or right anywhere in the room, and to raise or lower them, you simply change the length of the picture wire. I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Learn how your comment data is processed. Before you start fastening a TV mount to the wall, there are a few things you need to gather to enjoy the view without risking damage to your wall… Jump to: HANGING PICTURES ON PLASTER WALLS WITH PICTURE RAILS >>. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Read more…. This article was co-authored by Jeff Huynh. They seem difficult to work with: they're thick, hard, and brittle. You can raise or lower the wire to get the picture to the correct height. Still, I was always cautious about hanging things. Place a small piece of masking tape on the area in which you intend to hammer the nail. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Your email address will not be published. Raise or lower the second screw's spot to make things even. Many older homes (and some modern ones) have plaster walls. He has over five years of handyman experience. Find one appropriate to your project and go to town. Work carefully, holding the drill at a right angle to the wall. You can hang heavy items in plaster walls without driving screws into a stud. If you have a magnetic stud finder, you can also use this to locate the wooden studs behind your plaster wall and screw directly into those. To hang … Screws (and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items) are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. If you’re one of the fortunate ones, you may have picture rail in some of the rooms of your home. This article was co-authored by Jeff Huynh. They're installed first, then plaster or drywall is applied on top. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This article has been viewed 51,600 times. (Imagine me with my crafty hands bound to my sides with duck tape. We have 3 cat shelves that we brought with us. All you need to do is drive the anchor into your pre-drilled hole, then push the screw into the plastic anchor. How to hang on plaster-walls with a picture hanging system The ideal solution for hanging pictures on plaster is to use a picture hanging system like the all-in-one click rail cable hanging kit . Old houses can be daunting and that’s why I’m here to help you figure them out. Stone accent walls and fireplaces can be a great design feature, but hanging a picture on a stone wall or holiday wreath above a stone fireplace … If possible, drive the second screw into a stud. All you need to do is pre-drill a hole slightly narrower than your screws, then use the drill to drive a screw into the hole. Attach the hanger on the back of the object to the screw on the wall. Hanging things with plaster walls. Hanging lightweight items from stucco walls requires only a simple plastic wall anchor that's tapped into a hole drilled through the stucco and wall … Answered. For instance, if you want the second object to sit 4 inches (10 cm) higher and 18 inches (46 cm) to the right of the first one, measure out 18 inches (46 cm) to the right of the first screw. That friction creates holding force once the screen is installed, provided there's enough support behind the wall.". All these differences mean that the two require different fasteners and fastening methods for decorating. The stucco is backed by metal lath, building paper (tar paper) and structural wall sheathing, such as plywood. Box of screws that are 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) long, or 2 inches (5.1 cm) long for hanging heavy objects, Roll of wire for hanging the object (optional). Cut strips of tape and place them on the object you want to hang. Most wall framing is covered with drywall that typically measures 1/2 or 5/8 inch thick. The height is often variable depending on local traditions and builder preference, but seeing picture rail anywhere from about 1/2” to 1’ below the ceiling is not uncommon. the basics: Hanging ART. Move the stud finder about 16 inches (41 cm) to the side of the first screw and try to locate another stud. If the pictures are small and equipped with a wire on the back, use a small picture hook and nail. He has a BS in Business Administration from the San Francisco State University and his Certificate in Industrial Electronics Technology from North Seattle College. How to Hang Heavy Things on Plaster Walls – Don’t Just Wing it No doubt, wall arts, and hangings really bring the whole look of a house together. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. After all, it is just a piece of wood molding. ", Jeff Huynh, the general manager of Handyman Rescue Team, answered: "The anchor expands when you place it in a hole in the drywall. Over time, I learned all the tricks for hanging things on drywall. This method makes for easy removal. If you're hanging heavy objects, use screws with anchors for added protection. By using our site, you agree to our. Move the stud finder over the plaster wall across the spot where the heavy object will hang. If you did some big damage, you can use my post How To: Patch Plaster to get your walls back on track. Some times I can get a nail in at an angle and hang pictures without a problem, but just as often the plaster cracks and I end up with a hole in my wall… He has over five years of handyman experience. Check the placement of your object with a level to make sure it's even. Hammering nails into a plaster is a quick way to knock plaster loose from the lath that is supporting it. The masking tape gives the surrounding plaster extra support and minimizes flaking and cracking. For lighter items, simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1/4” drywall … Peel the backing off of one side of the tape and attach to the … Hanging heavy objects on the wall can be tricky, and with all the options available out there, downright confusing. Any ideas and tricks to help? Use a drill bit that is no larger than 0.25 inches (0.64 cm). This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Follow the instructions that came with your shelving to determine the required distance between your anchors. If you have plaster, brick, or other types of walls … For more tips from our Home Improvement co-author, including how to install shelving in a plaster wall, read on! To install the additional anchors, measure out the required distance right or left of the first one (depending on where you want the shelf to sit). You should also use screws with plastic anchor attachments if you can. If you can hang your … But it is hard to have that when your walls are … Some objects (like many picture frames) will have a hole in the back that you can set directly on the screw to hold it in place. Put the hole over the X … Place another bit of tape below the hole. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 51,600 times. Or, if you prefer, you can wrap one end of a piece of wire tightly around the screw head, then attach the other to the object's hanger. If you want the objects to sit at the same height, put a level on the line you measured out to ensure the screws are even with each other. Move the stud finder approximately 16 inches to the right or left of the mark. Everyone wants to decorate their walls, so learning how to hang things on plaster walls is important for every homeowner to learn. Light Items. If you do end up with a crack or small hole in your wall, you may be able to. Before you drill the second screw's anchor hole, place a level on the line between the first screw and the spot where you want the second one to be. For pictures weighing five to 10 pounds, drive your nail or hook at a downward angle into the wall. Or you can learn how to hang a TV on plaster walls from this article and do it yourself! 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how to hang things on plaster walls

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