·5 min
Mounting a TV on plaster is mostly a question of finding wood. Behind your plaster is a layer of horizontal wood lath strips, and behind that are vertical 2x4 studs (usually 16 inches on center, sometimes 24 in older bungalows).
Rule 1: never trust a stud finder alone on plaster. The horsehair and wire mesh in old plaster confuses cheap finders. Use a small finishing nail to confirm before you drill.
Rule 2: drill slowly with a masonry-friendly bit. Plaster crumbles if you punch through it. A slow drill with light pressure makes a clean hole that the lag bolt can grip.
Rule 3: spread the load. A TV mount that engages two studs is dramatically safer than one that grabs a single stud plus toggle bolts. We mount everything two-stud minimum.
Keep reading
- The Chicago bungalow winter prep checklistTwelve small fixes that keep a 1920s bungalow warm, dry, and quiet through a Chicago winter — most under $100.
- Patching plaster vs. drywall in a Chicago bungalowWhy old-bungalow walls need a different repair approach — and how to tell the two apart in 30 seconds.