Fit an ironing board holder to a lath and plaster wall

Fit an ironing board holder securely by checking what's behind your wall first and choosing the right fixing for it.

IB-01Gather your tools and materialsGet your ironing board holder, a cable and pipe detector, a drill with masonry and wood bits, a screwdriver, a spirit level, a pencil and a dust sheet. Lay the dust sheet down before you start to catch plaster dust and debris.

1 each · Wall-mounted ironing board holder

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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1 each · Dust sheet

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IB-02Mark the fixing positionHold the holder against the wall at a comfortable height, usually around 1500-1600mm from the floor so the board sits at a workable angle. Use a spirit level to keep the baseplate straight, then mark each screw hole through the holder with a pencil.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Pencil

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IB-03Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the safe zones. Run your detector over the marked spots, but still treat the wall as if something is there — cheap detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed plasterboard. Find your stopcock first, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before you drill.

IB-04Work out what's behind the lath and plasterLath and plaster can sit directly on solid brick or block, or on a timber stud partition wall. Tap the wall: a solid, dull thud usually means masonry behind; a slightly springy, hollow sound means studs and laths with a void between. Drill a small pilot hole at one marked point — fine timber dust means studs, and if the drill suddenly runs deeper with no resistance you've found the void between laths.

1 each · Drill bit 3mm

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IB-05If it's a stud wall, check timber or metalMetal studs are unusual behind original lath and plaster, since it predates that build method, but check if the wall has been altered. Run a magnet or your detector along the wall looking for a line of screw heads at regular centres. A pilot hole bringing out fine steel swarf instead of timber dust means metal studs, not timber. If you find metal, treat that section as a plasterboard-on-metal-stud wall rather than genuine lath and plaster.

IB-06Drill and fix into solid masonry behind the lath and plasterDrill through the plaster and lath and into the masonry using a 6mm masonry bit, going at least 40mm into the brick or block, not just the plaster. Push in a brown or red wall plug sized to match, then drive in the screw. The ironing board holder pulls on the wall each time it's used, so masonry fixings are the strongest option if you have them.

4 each · Wall plugs (red/brown, masonry)

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4 each · Screws 5x60mm

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1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

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IB-07Drill and fix into a timber studIf a screw hole lands on a timber stud, drill a 3mm pilot hole through the plaster and lath into the centre of the stud, then drive a wood screw at least 50mm long straight in. This is the strongest fixing on a stud wall and is best used for at least two of the holder's screw points if the stud spacing allows it.

4 each · Wood screws 4x50mm

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IB-08Fixing between studs, or if you find metal studsAn ironing board holder gets pulled away from the wall every time it's used, so a plain plasterboard fixing between studs isn't enough on its own — use a spring toggle or hollow-wall anchor rated for the load, and try to land at least one fixing point on solid timber. Never use a plain plastic wall plug or an ordinary wood screw in a metal stud, it will strip straight through the thin steel. If you've found metal studs, a self-drilling metal-stud fixing works for light loads, but for a holder like this it's safer to add a timber noggin between the studs, or move the fixing to a spot with masonry behind it.

4 each · Spring toggle fixings

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4 each · Self-drilling metal stud fixings

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1 each · Timber noggin (offcut)

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IB-09Fit the holderLine the holder up on your marked holes and drive the screws in fully, but don't overtighten and crack the old plaster around the laths. Check it's level again once all screws are in.

IB-10Test it and tidy upHang the ironing board and give the holder a firm downward and outward tug to check it holds without any movement in the wall. Vacuum up plaster dust, fold away the dust sheet, and fill any stray pilot holes with a dab of filler.

1 each · Multi-purpose filler (small tub)

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