Hold a flashlight right by the ceiling on a very gentle angle to the surface, so the light shines nearly horizontally across it. Look for dimples in the paint. They usually indicate the presence of a nail behind the plaster, and where there’s a nail, there’s a joist.
How do I find ceiling joists in my ceiling?
Start at one corner and use a tape measure to extend to 16 inches. Knock on the ceiling at the 16-inch mark, and if it sounds solid, you found the joist. If it sounds hollow, continue to the next step. Extend the tape measure from 16 to 24 inches and knock on the ceiling again.
How do you find a stud in an old plaster ceiling?
Plaster Ceilings
A stud finder is impractical on plaster, and tapping is useless. If you have access to the attic, measure from a sidewall to the nearest parallel joist and then transfer that measurement to the ceiling below. Confirm by making test holes with a long nail or a 1/8-inch drill bit.
Will a stud finder work on a plaster ceiling?
Plaster can be too thick or dense to find a stud with common stud finders, which is probably why you’re finding that these don’t work. And if the lath is a metal wire type, instead of older wood lath, a stud finder will produce false readings.
How do you find joists behind lath and plaster?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If 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 do you find a joist in the ceiling without a stud finder?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: She was trying to find one of the joists in her ceiling to be able to hang something. But of course there's no outlet there's no starting point to even know where to go now when we did the ceilings in
Which way do my ceiling joists run?
An important thing to know about joists is that they usually run in the same direction throughout a house. If the visible joists in a basement or attic run east to west, for example, you can be fairly certain the invisible joists under the bedroom floor also run east to west.
How far apart are studs in lath and plaster walls?
They’re always spaced either 16 or 24 inches on center (measured from center to center) along the wall and run between the floor and ceiling. Drywall or lath (for plaster walls) attaches to the edge of the studs.
How do you drill into plaster and lath?
- Equip a power drill with a carbide drill bit. A regular drill bit will dull when drilling through plaster or break if a masonry wall is behind the plaster.
- Place a piece of masking tape over the area you are drilling. …
- Set the drill to its lowest speed setting. …
- Hold the drill straight and keep it steady.
Can you mount a TV on lath and plaster?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It's not recommended to use drywall or masonry anchors or toggle bolts for large items like a tv. You can hang medium weight and lightweight items on a plaster wall.
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 do I hang something heavy on a 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.
How much weight can plaster walls hold?
Both plaster and drywall can hold roughly the same amount of weight. A screw driven into a stud in both plaster and drywall can hold 80–100 pounds (36–45 kilos). Anchored screws or other fasteners set into the wall where there is no stud can hold up to 20 pounds (9 kilos).
How do you find studs in plaster walls?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But if you just go across you can see boom it pulled a little bit if I go back there you can see it sticks. There's a nail holding the lath into a stud right behind plaster.
How do you anchor into plaster?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Just screw it in like that and then when you get to the face of the drywall or plasterboard just tighten up nice and firm. Not too hard so it finishes up flush with the surface.
Can you 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.
Do wall anchors work in plaster?
Plastic wall anchors, Molly Bolts or Toggle Bolts? 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.
Can you wall mount a TV on a plaster wall?
Many people ask the question “Can I put TV on a plasterboard wall?” The answer is yes you can fix a TV to a plasterboard wall. Hanging a TV on a plasterboard wall is possible even if the TV is very large and heavy.
