How to Hang Pictures on Plaster Walls

-I used to own several rental houses were were built in the early 1900's. They were beautiful bungalows, and I rented them out until it was time for me to renovate and sell them. All of them had plaster walls. The tenants would always ask me how to hang pictures on their plaster wall.

-Of course, my fear was that as they tried to hang their pictures, the plaster wall would crack as the nail was driven in. I had never repaired a plaster wall, and I didn't want to have to worry about it.

-I ended up insisting that the tenants use crown molding picture hangers to hang their pictures on the plaster walls. These devices attach to the crown molding and then wire or clear line is used to connect with the picture. I have to say that this did not look great, and I think the tenants were perturbed. They really wanted to use nails to hang their pictures on the plaster walls.

-I wish I had known this trick at the time: I have heard that you can put a piece of transparent or masking tape on the plaster wall before driving the nail in. After the nail is in that will be used to hang your picture, remove the tape, and the plaster should be intact.

-Sounds like a reasonable solution to me for hanging pictures on plaster walls without too much damage. Good luck!