Hanging Pictures On Plaster Walls
It seems like a straightforward process. Drill a couple of screws into a wall at the same height several inches apart, and then attach a picture hanging wire to present a visually appealing painting. You can also pound two nails into a wall several inches apart to achieve the same artistic presentation. However, what if plaster is the dominant material that supports a wall? Is it still possible to hang pictures on plaster walls?
During the greatest housing boom in the history of the United States, which ran from just after World War II until the early 1960s, general contractors used plaster to construct interior walls in most types of housing. They did this to maintain pace with the record demand for housing because the material took much less time to create than the time it took for other wall materials such as concrete.
What Defines a Plaster Wall?
Plaster consists of lath or wood strips that homebuilders use to build layers on top of each other. After making several layers of plaster, home builders then nail the layers to wall studs. Layered plaster then receives one or more coats of paint to create an acceptable interior decor that varies depending on other interior design attributes. Plaster typically presents an uneven textured appearance that resembles a rustic-type application. Many homebuilders continue to use plaster for constructing walls to create arches and curves that enhance the appearance of a room.
Hanging Pictures on Plaster Walls Using Studs
By far, the most popular way to hang pictures on plaster walls involves using studs, boards that extend from the top to the bottom of a wall and provide structural support. Locating studs by touch can be difficult, which means hanging pictures on walls with studs requires a stud finder. Stud finders locate studs by using a magnetic field that detects objects.
The downside of working with studs for hanging pictures on plaster walls is that you must arrange paintings and photographs according to the location of the studs. This reduces the ability to be creative in your approach to hanging art on plaster walls.
Hanging Pictures on Plaster Walls Without Using Studs
If studs do not support the plaster in your home, you have a few options for hanging pictures on plaster walls. You can anchor paintings and photographs with Molly or Toggle bolts, with instructions that ensure the utmost structural stability. Adhesive strips prevent you from drilling unsightly and potentially structurally unsound holes into plaster walls. Most adhesive strips support pictures weighing no more than six pounds, which means they work best for lighter art pieces.
Brass hooks are another popular choice for hanging pictures on plaster walls without the use of studs due to the tiny holes created by needle-like nails. You can hang pictures that weigh as much as 100 pounds by embedding brass hooks into a plaster wall.
As the most effective picture-hanging strategy for plaster walls without studs, picture molding provides durable support that acts as the structural foundation for a picture gallery system. Picture molding usually runs at the top of a room’s window panes, although you can install it just under the crown molding a few inches from the ceiling.
Turn to Walker Display for Hanging Art
Plaster is a material that requires a subtle approach for hanging pictures. If you live in a home constructed in the late 1940s to early 1960s, you likely live in a home supported by plaster walls. At Walker Display, we have helped customers discover the most effective method of hanging pictures on plaster walls.
Our clients include the Art Club of Washington, Des Plaines Arts, and Northwest Cultural Council. Reach out to us to learn more about hanging pictures on plaster walls.