Do any stud finders work on plaster walls?

Best Cheap Stud Finder for Plaster Walls—StudPoP “Grip” Magnetic Stud Finder. The cheap and simple StudPoP “Grip” magnetic stud finder works with most construction types like plaster and sheetrock. It is accurate and requires no batteries or calibration.

What is the best way to find studs in a plaster wall?





Grab the strongest magnet you have and tie a piece of dental floss or string around it. Dangle the magnet against the wall and slowly move it horizontally across the wall. You have to go slow. Every so often, the magnet will stick to the wall a bit on the stud location.

Are studs used in plaster walls?

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 use a stud finder on a plaster ceiling?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And you have a stucco or a textured ceiling an easy way to use a stud finder is just take a piece of cardboard. And put your stud finder on the cardboard.

What anchors to use in plaster walls?

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.

How far apart are studs in 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 find a wood stud in a plaster wall?

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.

Can you hang a TV on plaster walls?

You most certainly can mount this on lath and plaster walls. The key is finding the studs – and honestly finding the center of the studs. The mount itself is really heavy, and then you’re putting a heavy television on the end of a long lever.

How do you mount a TV on a plaster wall without studs?

How to mount a tv on a plaster wall without studs using toggles

  1. Place your TV mount on the wall. …
  2. Use a level to make sure the mount is levelled properly.
  3. With a pencil or marker, draw marks on the wall.
  4. Put aside the TV mount.
  5. Use a drill bit as large as the toggle when folded.
  6. Drill the holes.

How do you 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.

Is my wall plaster or drywall?

A pushpin test is what some experts do to find out what wall they’re working with quickly. Take a pushpin and press it on the wall using your thumb. If the pin pokes into the wall easily, that’s drywall. If it doesn’t, then that’s plaster.

How thick is a plaster wall?

A traditional 3-coat plaster is typically 7/8″ thick and when you add in the 1/4″ wood lath that supports the plaster wall, you have a wall that is more than 1″ thick! Compared to today’s most common drywall thickness of only 1/2″, that is a difference worth noting.

Can you screw directly into plaster?



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.

Can you hang shelves on plaster wall?

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.

Can you use toggle bolts in plaster?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It flares back out and then when you tighten it it grabs a hold of a bigger portion of the drywall or plaster.

How much weight can a toggle bolt hold in plaster?

25 pounds to 50 pounds



Metal toggle bolts can support heavy loads (25 pounds to 50 pounds) in drywall, plaster and hollow-core concrete block. Plastic versions hold medium loads (10 pounds to 25 pounds) in drywall and plaster.

Do I need anchors for plaster walls?

Hanging Objects From Plaster Walls With Drywall Anchors



Drywall anchors can be used on plaster walls the same way they’d be used on drywall. However, in many cases, they’re not necessary, because it’s easier to get a screw into the lath.

How do you hang shelves on old plaster walls?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: In. Now the reason you can use screws on plaster and not drywall is because there's little lath boards that run behind the plaster that attach to your studs that are strong enough to hold a bookshelf.

What is behind a plaster wall?

Rock lath was used to build many plaster walls between 1900 and 1960. Unlike wood lath, which is applied in strips, rock lath is a sheet of rock with holes that’s been chemically treated to allow for wet plaster application.

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).