Plaster walls
are often created from lime or gypsum block.
Hanging pictures on plaster walls, from small to large, is different from hanging directly on drywall. Plaster may crack or break and is more difficult to repair. Still, hanging your pictures or other accessories is not a difficult project.
Small Pictures
Very small, lightweight pictures and accessories that have wire backing may be hung on plaster the same way as they would be hung on drywall using a hammer and nail. Place a piece of masking tape on the wall. Lightly pound the nail diagonally into the plaster. For small items, plaster rarely cracks, according to SFgate.com.
Larger Pictures and Decor
Larger items require you to drill a small pilot hole into the plaster. With a hand drill you remove a bit of plaster from the wall and then insert a wall anchor. The anchor expands into the wall. Next, you place a screw into the opening with a small portion sticking out to hang your picture on. Most anchors are prepackaged with the correct screw size, and the packaging will state what size drill bit to use.
Caution
When hanging small items, there is a chance you will hit the lathe behind the plaster. Lath is the strip of thin wood behind the plaster that acts as the substructure. If you hit the lath, the nail often bounces back. If you continue to hammer into the lath, you risk the lath vibrating and the plaster loosening from underneath, creating cracks. Instead, always drill a hole when hitting lath. If you have any doubt about hanging the item on your wall, predrill a hole and use an anchor.
Additional Tips
If you do notice a small crack in the plaster, remove the nail or screw. Press on the plaster to ensure it is still stable. Fill in any gaps with drywall compound compound and allow to dry. If you want to avoid drilling holes or hammering nails into your plaster, some picture hangers use adhesive hooks that stick directly onto the plaster walls. These wall hooks are generally safe for small to medium size pictures. Over time, the adhesive does weaken. Check pictures often to ensure they are stable and the picture hooks are adhering well to the wall.
Related posts
It can be difficult to hammer a nail into plaster walls.If your home is over 50 years old, there is a good chance it may have plaster walls. Made from the mineral gypsum, plaster is essentially re...
When you're hanging a picture but you can't find a wooden stud beneath the wall to nail or screw into, using drywall anchors is the next best thing. Drywall, also known as sheetrock or gypsum, mak...
LCD and plasma TVs make it possible for any home to feel like a private theater. Unfortunately, most homes and apartments were not built with this in mind. During the housing boom of the 1950s, mo...
Plaster walls can be a little difficult to work with. If you have a painting with hanging wire that you want to hang on a plaster wall, you must use an anchor of some kind to make sure the hanging...
Hanging drapery rods in plaster can be a little tricky because of the composition of plaster walls. Plaster is a hard surface with a composition similar to concrete or plaster of Paris. This top f...
