How to Mount a TV on a Lath and Plaster Wall

This blog post will go over how to mount a TV on a lath and plaster wall. This is an essential step in homeownership because many people’s TVs are mounted on the wall instead of placed on a stand or table. It can be challenging to find a stud in this type of wall, but there are some tricks that you can use to make it easier for you! 

How to Mount a Tv on a Lath and Plaster Wall

This blog post will go over how to mount your TV onto a laminate or plasterboard wall without drilling any holes – which means no damage! And if you’re looking for instructions on mounting your TV onto brick or cement walls, check out our other blog posts about those types of surfaces.

Step to Follow on How to Mount a TV on a Lath and Plaster Wall

Step One: Determine

First, you must determine if your wall is lath and plaster or solid masonry. Most newer homes have a stud-and-drywall construction, but it’s essential to check. If you’re not sure, look for screws on the wall’s surface near electrical outlets and picture frames that appear to be structural supports.

Determine the Wall Is Lath and Plaster

If your wall contains either lath or plaster, you can most likely screw directly into the material with no need for studs. However, if your wall is masonry brick, concrete block, it’s not possible to drive screws into the surface without additional measures like toggle bolts or drilling holes and using anchors.

Step Two: Assess Your Need

Next, you need to determine if your wall is load-bearing. Load-bearing walls are just what they sound like – they support the weight of things on them. Without getting too technical, it’s usually fairly easy to spot a load-bearing wall. The best way to determine if your wall carries weight is by hanging something heavy off of it.

Use a piece of lumber or even something like an iron skillet filled with water. It doesn’t have to be too heavy, just something to test the strength of your wall. If it just pulls out of the wall, or you can use a drywall saw or drill bit to cut into it, then your wall is not load-bearing.

Load Bearing Walls

Step Three: Purchase Mounting Hardware

Next, you need to head over to your local hardware store and pick up a little bit of mounting hardware. You will need one or two toggle bolts per television. Also, be sure to purchase screws that will go well with the toggle bolt size you choose.

If you’re not sure what size screw is required for your wall, you can always reference the back of your television mounting hardware. Most of the time, they will list the size, but if not, you can always do a test with your toggler bolts before actually installing them in the wall.

Step Four: Choose a Location

Now that your mounting hardware is purchased, you need to find the best spot for your TV. The most important thing to remember here is to keep your eye level at around 48 inches above the floor. Remember, televisions are generally not used on coffee tables or desks, so you want them to be around eye level for most people.

Once you’ve found the spot, make sure to take a fair amount of measurements. This is also the time to consider if you will be mounting an antenna on the wall. If so, measure how far off center it will go and consider that when choosing the location of your TV.

Step Five: Drill Holes

Once you’ve found the perfect spot, you can use a level to make sure it’s straight and drill some pilot holes in the wall. This is very important for hanging anything on a wall; even with toggle bolts, it will be impossible to get them level if you don’t drill the holes first.

Once you’ve drilled your pilot holes, place the toggle bolts in them and screw them into the wall. You should use screws that are no more than 1/4″ longer than the depth of your toggle bolt. Now that you know how to mount a tv on a lath and plaster wall, you should be able to save a lot of money by doing it yourself. 

Drilling Pilot Holes

Step Six: Hang Your Television

After you’ve checked that everything is level and in position, go ahead and hang up your television. You may need an extra set of hands for this part, depending on the size of your television. After installing, make sure to sit back and enjoy!  You can always make any minor adjustments once you’ve got it where you want it.

However, you must let the toggle bolts do most of the work when hanging something. You don’t want to overtighten or bend any of your mounting hardware because this could cause permanent damage and eventually lead to a television falling on somebody.

Step Seven: Additional Measurements

Now, if you’re mounting this above your fireplace, there are a few extra considerations. For one, you need to make sure that the mounting hardware is in line with the brick or stone around it. You can do this by measuring between each piece of mortar and then dividing that number by three.

When you install the toggle bolts, you will be using three equally spaced holes around the television. If they are not evenly spaced, your television won’t be level, and nobody wants that. It may also help remove one of the bricks above your fireplace if you’re mounting it on an exterior wall.

You can check it to The Top 5 TV Shows of 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Drill Into Lath and Plaster?

It would be difficult (if not impossible) to drill into lath and plaster without first damaging the underlying structure. If you have any further questions about this or any other home construction questions, feel free to contact a professional.

Do Stud Finders Work on Lath and Plaster Walls?

It is often recommended that stud finders be used on lath and plaster walls because they create a wider surface for hammering. This makes it easier to nail or screw the wallboard in place, which can prevent unnecessary damage. Additionally, stud finders enable you to locate joists and other structural members more quickly and easily, preventing accidents while working on the wall.

When Did They Stop Using Plaster and Lath?

They do have some unique benefits that may be worth considering if you’re looking for a more sustainable option. For starters, plaster is made from gypsum, which is a mineral composed of calcium sulfate. This makes it an environmentally friendly product because it can be recycled multiple times without needing to be replaced with new material.

Additionally, lath was originally used as a water-resistant covering on walls and ceilings. It was also effective in stopping moisture and insects from entering the building envelope so that the structure remained habitable throughout harsh weather conditions.

What Stud Finder Works With Lath and Plaster?

Laser stud finders use a laser beam to identify the location of studs in walls, ceilings, or floors. Acoustic stud finders use sound waves to locate the location of studs. Both types of stud finders are effective in locating small, medium, and large-sized studs.

Conclusion

The best way to mount a TV on a plaster and lathe wall is to use an articulating arm. This will allow you to extend your mounting options, which could include using mounts that are flush against the wall or even hiding them behind furniture.

If this seems like something you would be interested in, there are different types of articulating arms for sale online at various price points, including ones made by top brands such as Sanus and Peerless-AV. The conclusion paragraph is informative and provides information on how to mount a tv on a lath and plaster wall.

Check it out also – How to Mount a TV in an Apartment.

Smart Home Pick
Logo