Fit a key holder to a lath and plaster wall

Find the timber behind the laths, pick the right fixing, and hang a key holder securely and safely.

KH-01Gather your tools and clear the areaLay a dust sheet under the work area, since old lime plaster crumbles when drilled. Get everything together: key holder, pencil, spirit level, stud/multi-detector, drill, mixed drill bits, screwdriver, masking tape and a small filler tub for any chips.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 roll · Masking tape

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1 each · Ready-mixed filler (small tub)

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KH-02Understand what's behind the plasterLath and plaster is thin timber strips (laths) nailed across timber uprights, then covered in lime plaster, usually in houses built before the 1950s. You will not find metal studs here — metal stud framing is a modern system that only ever pairs with plasterboard, never with lath and plaster. Occasionally lath is fixed to timber battens over solid brick or block instead of a stud wall, so check both possibilities before you drill.

KH-03Locate the timber uprights behind the lathsRun a stud detector or a small magnet slowly across the wall — a line of old nail heads holding the laths will show up roughly every 300-450mm, marking each upright or batten. Tap the wall too: a dull, solid knock means timber behind, a hollow rattle means you're between uprights over bare lath. If in doubt, a fine pilot hole in an inconspicuous spot will bring out pale timber dust for a stud, or hard grey brick dust if it's a masonry wall with battens.

KH-04Mark your fixing pointsHold the key holder against the wall at your chosen height and check it's level with a spirit level. Mark each screw hole position with a pencil, then stick a small piece of masking tape over each mark. The tape stops the pencil point wandering and helps hold brittle old plaster together as you drill.

KH-05Check for cables and pipes, then find your stopcockCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, and cheap detectors miss deep cables, armoured cable, and anything outside the usual safe zones. Run your detector over each mark, but still drill on the assumption something could be there. Before you start, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

KH-06Drill the holes carefullySet the drill to a slow speed with no hammer action — old lime plaster and thin laths crack easily under vibration. If a mark sits over a timber upright, drill a small pilot hole sized to your screw. If a mark falls between uprights, drill through the plaster and lath only, checking depth so you don't overshoot into the void behind. Go steadily and stop the moment the feel or sound of the drilling changes.

1 each · Pilot drill bit (3mm)

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KH-07Choose the right fixing for what's behind the holeOver a timber upright: drive a wood screw straight into the centre of the timber — no plug needed. Between uprights, into lath and plaster only: use a spring toggle fixing rather than a plain wall plug, since a plug will just spin in the brittle plaster and pull straight through. Behind battens over solid brick or block: drill on into the masonry and use a plastic wall plug matched to the drill bit size, with a screw long enough to reach a good 25-30mm into solid brick.

4 each · Wood screws (40mm)

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2 each · Spring toggle fixings

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4 each · Masonry wall plugs (assorted)

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KH-08Fit and test the key holderHold the key holder in place and drive each fixing home, checking with your spirit level as you go. Don't overtighten toggle fixings — stop as soon as they're snug, or they can crack the plaster around them. Hang a bunch of keys on each hook and give the whole thing a firm tug to check nothing shifts or flexes.

1 each · Key holder rack

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KH-09Tidy up and touch upVacuum up plaster dust and remove the dust sheet. If any small chips of plaster came away around the holes, press a little filler into the gaps with your finger and leave it to dry before touching. Wipe down the wall and put your tools away.

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