Walls and Ceilings - Hanging Shelf on Plaster Wall
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South_Boston
11-03-05, 08:19 AM
I want to hang a shelf on a plaster wall. We attempted to put the wall anchors in and the wall just crumbled....
From your experiences, what might we be doing wrong?
From your experiences, what might we be doing wrong?
guest2
11-03-05, 11:19 AM
I want to hang a shelf on a plaster wall. We attempted to put the wall anchors in and the wall just crumbled....
From your experiences, what might we be doing wrong?
What kind of anchor are you using? I have had good luck with the butterfly style anchors. I think they work better because you drill right through the plaster and lathe and therefore the pressure is against the back of the lathe rather than on the plaster around the sides of the hole as it is with the little plastic anchors you hammer in. They are also stronger. You need a long anchor and a larger hole than would be required for the plastic anchors. I make the hole big enough that the anchor slips in and doesn't require hammering, which also saves the plaster. You have to be very gentle in drilling and occassionally there is a little cracking, but not too bad in my experience.
From your experiences, what might we be doing wrong?
What kind of anchor are you using? I have had good luck with the butterfly style anchors. I think they work better because you drill right through the plaster and lathe and therefore the pressure is against the back of the lathe rather than on the plaster around the sides of the hole as it is with the little plastic anchors you hammer in. They are also stronger. You need a long anchor and a larger hole than would be required for the plastic anchors. I make the hole big enough that the anchor slips in and doesn't require hammering, which also saves the plaster. You have to be very gentle in drilling and occassionally there is a little cracking, but not too bad in my experience.
tightcoat
11-05-05, 08:16 PM
How old is the house? Is it plaster over wood lath?
How large and how heavy is the shelf?
How large and how heavy is the shelf?