Plaster is more easily damaged than drywall so it s recommended to tap into the supporting studs where possible.
Hanging objects on plaster walls.
Though there are several methods of locating studs or supports behind the wall the most reliable is using a magnetic stud finder.
Plaster hooks or hanging picture hooks are a common solution for hanging pictures on plaster wall.
Instead use a screw because they won t break the plaster wall.
Pre drill the holes and use fairly long screws to ensure a secure fit.
It s actually not too hard to hang things on plaster walls however as long as you use screws and work slowly and carefully.
How to hang heavy objects on plaster.
As mentioned earlier avoid using nails on plaster wall because they will likely cause the drywall to crack.
Screws and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail.
They can generally support pictures of up to 20 pounds.
Plaster walls tend to crack or crumble easily so hanging art is a special challenge for this type of surface.
Once you ve done that hanging a heavy object like a large mirror television or work of art becomes a safer and simpler task.
Simply hanging something heavy on a plaster wall can result in damage to the wall and the object if you don t tap into the supporting structure behind the plaster.
Although plaster walls are thicker and denser than drywall they re also hollow so require heavy duty fasteners to secure weightier objects.