Fit a row of coat hooks to a lath and plaster wall

Fit a row of coat hooks into a lath and plaster wall using the right screws or toggles so nothing pulls out or cracks the plaster.

CH-01Gather your tools and hooksGet everything together before you start: coat hooks, a pencil, tape measure, spirit level, stud detector, drill with wood and masonry bits, and a screwdriver. Lay a dust sheet under the work area, since drilling into old plaster makes a mess.

1 pack · Coat hooks (pack of 4-6)

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1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Stud detector

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CH-02Mark the height and spacingDecide on hook height, typically around 1400mm from the floor for adults, or 1000mm for children. Mark a level line with your spirit level along the wall, then mark where each hook will go, spacing them roughly 150-200mm apart.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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CH-03Find the timber studs behind the plasterLath and plaster is always built on timber studs or joists, never metal, since it's an older method. Use your stud detector, or tap along the wall listening for a duller, solid sound where a stud sits behind the thin timber laths, against a hollow sound in between. Mark the centre of each stud you find near your hook line, since these give the strongest fixing.

CH-04Check for cables and pipes, and know your isolation pointsRun your detector over the whole marked line, but don't trust it completely. Detectors can miss cables that are deep, in conduit, or outside the usual safe zones, and old lath and plaster walls can hide wiring in unexpected places. Before you drill, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut off water fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what's behind the wall, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit first.

CH-05Drill and fix hooks that land on a studWhere a hook mark lines up with a stud, drill a 2mm pilot hole through the plaster and lath first, going slowly to avoid cracking the old plaster. Drive a wood screw into the centre of the stud, long enough to pass through the plaster, lath and at least 25mm into solid timber, usually 40-50mm total. Screw the hook baseplate on and check it's tight.

6 each · Wood screws 40-50mm

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CH-06Fix hooks that fall between studsIf a hook's ideal spot doesn't line up with a stud, don't force the spacing. Drill a pilot hole through the plaster and lath only, then fit a spring toggle or fine-thread hollow wall anchor rated for lath and plaster, since a plain wall plug will crumble the brittle old plaster and won't grip. Push the toggle through, let it open behind the laths, then tighten the screw until the hook baseplate sits flush.

4 each · Spring toggle fixings for lath and plaster

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CH-07Fit the remaining hooks and check the lineWork along the wall fitting each hook the same way, checking every hook against your spirit level line as you go. Give the whole row a final check with the level once all hooks are up, since old walls can be slightly uneven and it's worth eyeballing the overall look.

CH-08Patch any cracks and tidy upLath and plaster can hairline-crack around new holes even when you're careful. Fill any small cracks with a flexible filler, let it dry, then sand lightly and touch up with matching paint. Vacuum up plaster dust and fold away your dust sheet.

1 each · Flexible filler (small tube)

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1 sheet · Fine sandpaper

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1 small pot · Touch-up paint

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