Plaster Wall Hanging and Mounting Guide, by Welcome to the Woods on YouTube. 7 min 38 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 38 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Clear the wall and mark the height you want the top of the mirror. Measure down to the hanging wire or bracket so you know where the fixings must go.
Run a magnetic stud finder over the wall. On lath and plaster it picks up the nail heads holding the wood strips to the studs, which shows you where the solid timber is.
Mark a vertical line of nail heads to confirm a stud. Drill a small pilot hole and drive a screw into the timber, leaving the head proud for the mirror wire.
If there is no stud, drill a hole the width of a closed toggle bolt, just wide enough for the wings to pass through the plaster.
Push the toggle bolt through the mirror bracket and the hole, then tighten it. The wings open behind the lath and clamp the wall from the back.
Fit two toggle bolts for a heavy mirror, spaced about a third of the mirror width apart and level with each other.
Drill slowly and steadily, and stop as soon as the bit breaks through the plaster. Heavy pressure cracks the plaster around the hole.
Hang the mirror, check it with a spirit level, and adjust the wire or brackets until it sits straight.
Tips and common mistakes
Put a strip of masking tape on the drill bit at the depth of the plaster so you stop before the lath.
Drill with light pressure, since pushing hard is the quickest way to blow a chunk out of old plaster.
Never overtighten a toggle bolt, as the wings can crush the plaster and pull through.
Wear eye protection and ask a helper to lift the mirror, because plaster dust and heavy glass are both awkward alone.
Questions
Will a lath and plaster wall hold a heavy mirror?
Yes, if you fix into a stud or use toggle bolts that clamp the lath from behind. A plastic plug sitting in the plaster alone will not hold weight.
Can I use a normal electronic stud finder?
It often struggles on lath and plaster because of the mixed layers. A magnetic finder that looks for nail heads is more reliable on old walls.
How do I stop the plaster cracking when I drill?
Use a sharp bit, start with a small pilot hole and drill slowly without pushing. Tape on the bit also stops you drilling deeper than you need.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
