You may want to display some of your art on your plaster wall but still don’t know how to go about it.
We have good news for you, Plaster wall anchoring is the solution.
But, It may interest you to know that when choosing an anchor for your plaster wall, you should avoid drywall anchors, and self-tapping anchors because they may pull out of the plaster.
Drywalls and plaster are different so when choosing an anchor make sure it is rated for masonry or it’s designed for plaster walls alone.
Now, how do you choose an anchor?
To help you make a better choice, we have decided to discuss the Top 5 Best Anchors For Plaster Walls to help you display your art so keep reading.
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5 Best Anchors For Plaster Walls
There are several options to choose from but these are the 5 essential anchors to note:
1. Anchor Alternatives
In some cases, you don’t need an anchor to hang items on your plaster walls because there are several alternatives which include plaster hooks, picture rails, and adhesive hooks that are effective for plaster walls.
You can also drive screws into wall studs, no anchor is required. So, if you are hanging items on your plaster walls using screws set into studs, you don’t need wall anchors at all.
Simply pre-drill a hole through the plaster and lath, then drive a screw directly into the stud.
Tip: Picture rails_ have a heavy-duty weight-carrying capacity.
2. Molly Bolts
A molly bolt is a bolt with a metal sleeve around it. Similar to toggle bolts it’s an all-metal anchor as well, which works excellently well.
When inserted into a pre-drilled hole and tightened, the sleeve around the molly bolt expands to form a three-point anchor that braces against the back of the plaster and lath. Molly bolts can be used to hang items up to 20 pounds (9 kilos).
A molly bolt is also easy to install and you don’t have to worry about selecting the right type of molly bolt because it’s a foolproof option for hanging items on plaster walls.
3. Toggle Bolts
Everyone has their choices, you can also use a toggle bolt to secure objects to plaster walls as well, instead of plastic anchors. A toggle bolt is an all-metal bolt threaded onto a particular pair of metal wings that fold in the same direction.
This is an extremely secure option for anchoring in plaster walls. When using this plaster anchor, drill a hole and insert the bolt. Once inside the wall, the wings on the bolt will expand and brace against the back of the plaster and lath.
Some toggle bolts can be used to hold items up to 40 pounds (18 kilos).
A toggle bolt is seen as heavy-duty compared to plastic anchors.
To Increase the security of toggle bolts in the plaster wall, just make sure to pre-drill a hole through plaster and lath, then insert the toggle bolt until the wings point straight up and down (toward the ceiling and floor).
This allows the toggle to brace against two different pieces of lath, rather than putting the strain on a concentrated area of your wall.
4. Specialized Plaster Anchors
Due to the constant challenge of having plastic anchors pulled out of plaster walls, the producers decided to invent another special anchor designed for plaster walls alone.
Going forward, it was discovered that the specialized plaster anchor is similar to masonry anchors, but it contains two different materials which makes it expand and grip the plaster wall.
Furthermore, these anchors are designed to hold firm in plaster walls, it is also versatile enough to be used in drywall, but not vice versa. Plaster anchors can hold objects that weigh up to 20 pounds (9 kilos).
5. Expansion Anchors
Note that drywall anchors don’t work on plaster, however, expansion anchors can because they’re designed for masonry walls.
These plastic anchors are usually blue. Also, just like their name, this anchor works by expanding and holding hard, brittle masonry, which has a consistency similar to plaster.
These anchors won’t pull out of your wall because, it’s designed for usage in masonry, making them suitable for plaster walls. Also, expansion masonry anchors can carry up to 20 pounds (9 kilos) per anchor.
This anchor provides a quick fix for hanging items on plaster walls. Lastly, acquiring this anchor leaves no hole in your pocket and it’s available everywhere. Getting the job done right is the goal.
How To Choose The Best Anchoring Kit
The best way to choose an anchoring kit is to know what it is you need out of it. If you are going to be anchoring lighter things, then perhaps plastic would be better.
If you know the thickness of your walls, then a hollow drive molly bolt system is ideal for heavy-duty needs.
If you do not know the thickness of the plaster of your walls, do not want to do any pre-drilling, or use special tools, then the self-drilling option is great for heavy-duty holds as well.
Pros And Cons Of Plaster Walls
Pros:
- Durability
Plaster walls are rugged and durable. Even plaster walls that consist of delicate wooden lath can withstand impacts and scratch better than a drywall surface.
- Sound Transfer Resistance
Due to plaster’s natural material density, sound waves have difficulty penetrating a plaster wall. Drywall is less dense and typically much thinner than plaster, meaning sound travels more easily through the material.
- Mold and Mildew Resistance
Plaster is not a source of food for mold. Although mold and mildew may feed on paint or dirt on a plaster wall, the wall underneath the mold will remain intact. Once the offending growth is removed, you’ll still have a functional wall surface.
Cons:
- Costly to Build
Plaster wall construction requires more skilled labor than drywall, which is more costly. Though the drywall compound takes longer to dry and the project could stretch for days, the actual labor cost is lower than that for plaster.
Drywall requires three steps to complete and includes very dusty sanding. While plaster doesn’t need sanding and the project is usually complete in a day, the amount of labor is greater overall.
- Inconvenience
Plaster walls can be challenging to own. Hanging pictures or televisions requires drilling pilot holes and installing anchors. Textured plaster walls can be frustrating to keep clean.
Running new electrical wires or accessing in-wall plumbing is more complex than simply cutting open a drywall wall. Retrofitting insulation into an exterior plaster wall is tricky because the plaster penetrates the lath to hold it in place.
- Develops Cracks and Sags
Plaster continues to cure and becomes more rigid and brittle as it ages, making it more susceptible to surface cracking. A settling house foundation easily causes deep cracks in plaster that must be repaired.
Old plaster can also experience damage below the surface that can cause it to sag from the ceiling or walls.
Conclusion
Even though they are stunning and old-fashioned, plaster walls can be a little trickier to hang things on than drywall.
To prevent damage to the plaster and guarantee that the object being hung is stable, it’s critical to use the proper kind of anchor.
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