Fit a pull-down projector screen to a lath and plaster wall

Fit a pull-down projector screen safely, finding the right structure behind your wall and matching the fixing to it.

PS-01Plan the position and gather your toolsDecide where the screen will hang, usually centred on the wall with the top bracket close to the ceiling so the screen drops clear of the projected image. Measure the width of the screen housing and mark the centre point on the wall in pencil. Lay a dust sheet on the floor below and get out your spirit level, tape measure, detector, drill, screwdriver and stepladder.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Pencil

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PS-02Check what's really behind the lath and plasterLath and plaster is a thin skin of plaster on wood strips nailed to timber studs or joists, usually about 400mm apart. The plaster and laths are too weak to carry the screen's weight alone, so every fixing must land in a solid timber stud behind them. Run your detector along the wall to trace the line of nail or screw heads, tap to find the hollow sound between studs, then confirm with a small pilot hole in an inconspicuous spot. Pale wood dust means you've found a stud; if it just brings powdery plaster, move over 20-30mm and try again, and if the hole hits something much harder, you may actually have masonry behind and should treat it as a solid wall instead.

PS-03Mark fixing points and drill safelyHold the top bracket against the wall at your marked height, level it, and mark the screw holes through it. Cables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the usual zones, and a detector can miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed board. Before you drill, 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 there is any doubt, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn the water off at the stopcock before cutting into anything that could carry water. Drill a small pilot hole at each mark first to confirm you're still in solid material, then open it out to the size your fixing needs.

PS-04Choose the right fixing for your wall typeFor lath and plaster over a timber stud, pre-drill a pilot hole through the plaster and lath, then drive a 5mm x 60-75mm wood screw into the centre of the stud so the screw grips solid timber, not just plaster. For solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole 45-50mm deep, fit a plastic wall plug, and use a 5mm x 50mm screw. For plasterboard on timber studs, a wood screw straight into the stud centre is enough, no plug needed. For plasterboard on metal studs, never use a plain plastic plug or an ordinary wood screw, it will strip straight through 0.5mm steel; use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor rated for the load. For dot-and-dab plasterboard, the board sits on adhesive dabs with an air gap behind, so use a fixing long enough to pass through the board and dabs into the masonry, typically 75-90mm, or a heavy-duty frame fixing. A projector screen is light but gets pulled down repeatedly, so a fixing into plasterboard or a single metal stud toggle is only safe if it's rated for that repeated pulling; if in doubt, fit a timber noggin between the studs first, or fix through to solid masonry behind.

1 pack · Wood screws (5mm x 60mm, pack)

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1 pack · Plastic wall plugs (pack)

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1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

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1 pack · Metal-stud toggle fixings (pack of 4)

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1 pack · Heavy-duty frame fixings (pack)

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PS-05Fit the fixings and mount the bracketInsert the chosen fixing into each drilled hole, tapping plugs flush or fitting toggle fixings following the pack instructions. Screw the top bracket to the wall through each fixing, tightening evenly so it sits flat and doesn't rock. Check the bracket is still level before fully tightening the last screw.

PS-06Hang the screen housing and secure itLift the screen housing onto the fitted bracket, getting help if it's more than about 5kg, and slot it into place following the manufacturer's clips or lugs. Fit any second bracket or safety strap the same way, using the same wall-type fixing you chose earlier. Give the housing a firm tug to check it's secure before letting go.

PS-07Test the pull-down mechanismPull the screen down slowly to its full drop and let it retract, checking it runs straight and doesn't catch on the bracket. If it hangs unevenly, loosen and adjust the bracket screws slightly on the low side. Note the final drop height so you know where it sits when in use.

PS-08Tidy up and check your workVacuum up any plaster or masonry dust, especially the fine dust that lath and plaster tends to spread. Wipe down the wall and remove the dust sheet. Finish with a check that every fixing is tight and the screen sits level and secure.

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