I'm trying to help my mom hang some curtains in her new house, but I'm hitting a wall—literally! When I try to drill into the plaster, I keep hitting something that feels like cement and can't get the wall anchors in properly. I've ended up with lots of holes and no curtains. Is there a trick to make this easier? Any guidance would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Just a heads up: lath usually won't hold heavy curtains well. I've hung a ton of drapes myself, but for tricky plaster jobs, I always call in a pro for help with installation and plaster repair.
It sounds like you might be hitting wood lath behind the plaster. If that's the case, you can actually hang the curtains directly on it without needing anchors. Try drilling a little to check for that before proceeding!
You should consider using a hammer drill with a concrete-rated bit. It's not very common to have concrete right behind plaster, but if you notice electrical boxes, peek inside—they can give you clues about your wall setup.
Yikes, I might need to hire someone, then! Sounds like this isn't as simple as I thought!
I felt the same! Sometimes, you think you're hitting a stud, but it's just that sturdy wood behind the plaster. Good luck!