Receiving Helpdesk

how do you hang shelves on a lath and plaster wall

by Ms. Ashlynn Becker Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

How to Hang Shelves on Plaster Walls

  1. Determine where you want your shelves and how wide they will be. ...
  2. Use a stud finder to locate the studs within the walls. ...
  3. Determine the height for the first shelf. Mount or hold the laser level so that it makes a line where the first shelf goes.
  4. Place a bracket over the stud, with the top even with the laser line. Mark the wall where the bracket holes are to be drilled.
  5. Drill small pilot holes at each marked location. If the hole goes into a stud, a tiny pilot hole is all that is required.
  6. Screw the bracket into place. If it is being mounted to a stud, use wood screws. ...
  7. Repeat for all brackets, then place the shelf on the brackets. This process can be repeated as many times as necessary to complete the project.

Method
  1. Choose a style. Consider what you will be storing on your shelf. ...
  2. Locate wall studs. Use a stud finder to locate wooden studs hidden behind the plaster wall. ...
  3. Locate and mark your shelf. ...
  4. Mark the mounting brackets. ...
  5. Use the drill. ...
  6. Level it out. ...
  7. Mount the shelf.
Apr 17, 2019

How do you install shelves in plaster plaster walls?

Plaster Walls With Available Studs Locate the vertical studs in the wall where the shelving will be located by sliding an electronic stud sensor over that space. Place one of the brackets against the wall at the first shelf location.

How do you put brackets on a wall shelf?

This light shows you where to line up the top of all brackets for that shelf. Place a bracket over the stud, with the top even with the laser line. Mark the wall where the bracket holes are to be drilled. Repeat this for each bracket for the first shelf. Drill small pilot holes at each marked location.

How do you hang things on plaster walls without screws?

Then use a measuring tape to make a straight line going up the wall from this spot. Along that line, mark the height where you actually want to hang the object on a piece of painter's tape. You can hang heavy items in plaster walls without driving screws into a stud. However, you should use screws with anchors to be more secure.

How do you Mount shelves to the wall in a closet?

Plan to position the shelves so that the support brackets will be located over the centers of the studs. Place one of the brackets against the wall at the first shelf location.

How do you attach floating shelves to plaster and lath?

0:317:34Installing a floating shelf on plaster walls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe screw gun a drill and you want to make sure you have multiple drill bits just in case you messMoreThe screw gun a drill and you want to make sure you have multiple drill bits just in case you mess up so you want to start with the smallest possible hole. Using the anchors and screws.

How do you hang things on plaster and lath walls?

Plastic wall anchors don't work with lath and plaster walls. Instead, use plaster anchors made of metal like a molly bolt or a toggle bolt. Be sure to use one that's long enough to get behind the plaster and lath. When drilling into plaster, you'll need to use a masonry bit.

What is the best way to hang shelves on plaster walls?

Plaster walls have studs. When installing brackets on plaster walls, the ideal solution is to drill and attach them directly to the wall studs. This will ensure the secure position of the shelves. To locate the wall studs use a stud finder.

How do you hang a shelf on a plaster wall without studs?

If you're working with plaster or need something that bears more weight, try using a molly bolt. For very heavy shelves, pick toggle bolts. After preparing the wall and drilling pilot holes, secure mounting brackets to the anchor of your choice for firm, stable shelving.

Do stud finders work on lath and plaster walls?

Because standard stud finders detect a change in density inside the wall, they don't work on lath and plaster – the density inside these walls is not constant enough. If you have just moved into an older home and your stud finder isn't doing its job, invest in a metal scanner instead.

How much weight can a lath and plaster wall hold?

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. The wood lath behind the plaster is strong and can support up to 25 lbs of weight, given the screw is driven directly into the wood.

How do you hang shelves on a thick plaster wall?

Screws (and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items) are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. For lighter items, simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1/4” drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.

What screws to use for shelves on plaster walls?

This building technique results in a wall that's difficult to drill through and chips easily. To anchor heavy shelving to plaster walls, use toggle bolts. They spread the weight-bearing pressure out from the point where the shelving is secured to the wall.

What kind of screws do you use for plaster walls?

Light Items. Screws are your ultimate option for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. For lighter items, screwing into the plaster with a 1 1/4” drywall screw can get the job done. For heavy items, you can opt screws with masonry anchors.

How do you attach shelves to plaster?

MethodChoose a style. Consider what you will be storing on your shelf. ... Locate wall studs. Use a stud finder to locate wooden studs hidden behind the plaster wall. ... Locate and mark your shelf. ... Mark the mounting brackets. ... Use the drill. ... Level it out. ... Mount the shelf.

How do you find a stud in a plaster wall?

0:135:05how to find studs in plaster walls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf there's anything metal they'll find it they're extremely difficult to separate. They really wantMoreIf there's anything metal they'll find it they're extremely difficult to separate. They really want to hang on. So what we're going to do is putting it on the wall until it finds a nail underneath.

How to find studs in a lathe?

Make sure that you move the stud detector perfectly horizontally for best results. If you move up/down it'll detect the lathe. If you move left/right it'll see through the lathe to the studs. I've got a +98% success rate doing it this way.

How to set stud finder on wall?

When you set the stud finder on the wall and press the button, the first thing it does is take a baseline reading. It's looking for changes in that reading. You need to keep the sensor moving horizontally so the only change it will see is from the stud.

What is the best nail for wood lath?

It may be possible to search for the nails that attach the wood lath to the studs either with a detector that has a metal mode or one that is designed to detect only metal. Zircon is a good brand.

Can stud finders be used on plaster walls?

The addition of metal mesh at inside and outside corners does not help much. You can try measuring on 16 inch centers from the nearest corner, but stud spacing was often not very even when lath and plaster walls were used.

Can you use moly bolts on metal lath?

If it is metal lath you might be able to use the trial and error method but if the material is sound you can use moly bolts that are inserted in a drilled hole and expand when you tighten them.

Do you need studs behind lath and plaster?

I'm not sure why your general contractor told you that there were no studs behind the lath and plaster wall, but I would be inclined not to ask him any more questions. There have to be studs back in there, lath and plaster is not structural. You can find them with a stud-finder device (electronic), or you can drill holes. They should be on 16 inch centers.

How do I anchor shelves in plaster?

How Do I Anchor Shelves Into a Plaster Wall? Plaster walls are made by nailing strips of narrow wood lath, spaced 1/4 inch apart, horizontally across the vertical studs. Plaster is then pressed onto the strips of lath board with sufficient force to drive it through the 1/4 inch spaces and cause it to mushroom out behind the lath.

How to anchor heavy shelving to plaster wall?

This building technique results in a wall that's difficult to drill through and chips easily. To anchor heavy shelving to plaster walls, use toggle bolts. They spread the weight-bearing pressure out from the point where the shelving is secured to the wall.

How to drill holes in plaster?

Drill a pilot hole through the plaster and into the stud at each mark, using a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the bracket mounting screws.

How to Hang Shelves on Plaster Walls

Most of us have only one or two shelves on the walls that are not used to their full storage potential. With the right shelving in place, your walls can become useful places to organize various items.

How to Hang Shelves on Plaster Walls with Available Studs

Have you recently purchased new shelves but don’t know how to attach them to your plaster walls? You’re in luck! Follow these steps to easily attach shelving to walls.

FAQ About How to Hang Shelves on Plaster Walls

Shelves can be attached to plaster walls using screws thanks to little lath boards that run behind. This will ensure that the attached studs are strong and capable of holding bookshelves securely. Drill holes into the wall where the studs are located, place the shelf on the wall, secure it in place, and it’s ready for use!

Takeaway

Installing shelves on a wall might seem like an easy job but it’s not. When it comes to plaster walls, it can be a daunting challenge. That’s why you need to know how to hang shelves on plaster walls before taking on this do-it-yourself project.

How to hang a piece of art on a wall?

Mark the spot where you want to hang the object. Place a piece of painter's tape on the wall roughly where you want the object to be. Then use the measuring tape to measure the height of the exact spot. Mark it on the painter's tape using a pencil.

How to secure heavy items on plaster walls?

Use heavy-duty hardware. To secure heavy items on plaster walls, use screws that are 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. If possible, get screws that have plastic anchor attachments to help hold them in place.

What is the best way to keep plaster from cracking?

The painter's tape will help keep the plaster from cracking when you drill into it.

How to find a stud in a wall?

Most stud finders will light up when they find a stud. If you find a stud, mark the spot on the wall. Then use a measuring tape to make a straight line going up the wall from this spot. Along that line, mark the height where you actually want to hang the object on a piece of painter's tape.

How far down do you put a screw in plaster?

Some older plaster walls have a thin strip of wood that runs around the perimeter of a room, usually between 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 1 foot (30 cm) below the edge of the ceiling. If your room has this, you can simply drive a screw through the wood, and use this to hang things.

How to make sure second anchor is even with first?

Set a level on the line made by your tape measure to make sure the second anchor will be even with the first.

Does the anchor expand when you put it in a hole?

Jeff Huynh, the general manager of Handyman Rescue Team, answered: "The anchor expands when you place it in a hole in the drywall. That friction creates holding force once the screen is installed, provided there's enough support behind the wall."

kjb New Member

I have some floating shelves to fix to a plaster and lathe wall.....any hints as to the sort of fixings I should use would be gratefully appreciated! They won't be taking much weights - just displaying some hats but the shelves themselves weigh a fair bit! (bought from a national DIY store)

kjb New Member

Thanks, but the bracket positions are set by the shelves and I can't change them!

Mr GrimNasty Active Member

There are lots of cavity fixings available (just browse screwfix) but with your type of wall, fixing to any point other than the stud timbers is going to be troublesome.

dj. New Member

what about the horizontal noggins? if these are of similar heights to where the shelves are to go then screw top of the bracket to the nogs and cavity fix the bottom ones. i can't remember the heights though, 3 ft and 6ft i think (any corrections appreciated).

kjb New Member

Tangoman, in answer to your question they are 8.5lb each, or 3.5kg. They are 1200mm wide by 260mm deep. They have two brackets, one on each end which is fixed by the pre-drilled hole in the shelf.

Mr GrimNasty Active Member

It's hard for anyone to give you a definitive answer - it depends so much on the age & state of your walls. Over time the relationship between the lathes and the plaster can become very tenuous! Unlike plasterboard where you will just pull the fixing through the hole and leave a bigger hole, with l&p your could pull half the wall off.

GASMAN Guest

PUT SHELF ON WALL GET A LEVELISH LINE MAYBE ASK SOMEONE TO HELP LOOK WHILE YOU HOLD IT, DRAW LINE ON TOPSIDE OF SHELF.

Why is it important to learn how to hang things on plaster walls?

It’s important not just to make the decorating process simpler, but to also avoid costly damage.

How thick is plaster?

Drywall is usually 1/2” thick, compared to historic plaster, which can range from 3/4” to just over 1” thick. Plaster is much harder than drywall. Plaster is more brittle than drywall.

What is the difference between plaster and drywall?

What’s the Real Difference Between Plaster and Drywall? 1 Drywall is usually 1/2” thick, compared to historic plaster, which can range from 3/4” to just over 1” thick. 2 Plaster is much harder than drywall 3 Plaster is more brittle than drywall 4 Plaster has lath (wood, metal mesh, or rock lath) behind it that supports it, whereas drywall has nothing behind it

Is plaster harder than drywall?

Plaster is much harder than drywall. Plaster is more brittle than drywall. Plaster has lath (wood, metal mesh, or rock lath) behind it that supports it, whereas drywall has nothing behind it. All these differences mean that the two require different fasteners and fastening methods for decorating. Picture rail.

Can you use a stud finder on plaster?

Stud finders rarely work on plaster, but you can find the studs using the magnet trick. Unfortunately, it seems that every time I need to hang something heavy, there is never a stud where I need one. When that happens, I am stuck using anchors. There are a number of anchors available, all rated by how much weight they can hold.

Can you use spackle to rehang a 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.

Can you hang heavy items on a picture rail?

Picture rail works great for most decorations, but don’t try hanging extremely heavy items from it. After all, it is just a piece of wood molding. If you think something is too heavy, then it’s best to mount it in a more secure way to the wall.

What to do if you can't mount shelving?

If you can't mount the shelving properly for any reason, go with a standing shelf and don't mess around with incorrect bolts/anchors.

Can you use drywall anchors on plaster walls?

I know you can't use a drywall anchor. Hopefully someone with experience can help you with the plaster wall. Don't do anything else until you have good advice.

Can you use drywall anchors on heavy wood shelves?

The point might be made that the OP is wanting to install heavy wood shelves. Drywall anchors won't cut it, and may actually wind up with a worse outcome than the pic with wire shelving. THAT was actually the point. Nothing moronic about it.

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