![will lathe and plaster walls hold shelf will lathe and plaster walls hold shelf](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3d/a0/84/3da08460498de7a7e20d4d947702fc36.jpg)
My solution to this problem was to suck out as much sand and debris as possible through the hole in the plaster with a vacuum cleaner. Then fill the void with ready mixed filler through the same hole in the plaster.
![will lathe and plaster walls hold shelf will lathe and plaster walls hold shelf](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/AGNFNG/traditional-lath-and-plaster-wall-with-laths-exposed-AGNFNG.jpg)
Method of Fixing Shelf Battens To Old Walls There was just a lot of sand which I think was really the mortar holding the bricks together or the rendering under the surface plaster. I then proceeded to drill the holes with a hammer drill only to find there was no solid wall, to speak of, beneath the plaster. With a cross drawn, any wandering of the drill bit can be seen and maybe corrected with sideways force on the drill while drilling.
![will lathe and plaster walls hold shelf will lathe and plaster walls hold shelf](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--epeGdw8OKc/T1J6z-AeF3I/AAAAAAAAARU/h3WyykuVQWk/s1600/Plaster.jpg)
I drew a 1.5cm cross at each screwdriver mark so I knew where the centre should be during the drilling process. Then I aligned the battens with the position I had marked on the wall using a spirit level, marked a line on the wall level with the top of each batten, and marked through the holes with a thin screwdriver by pushing it into the plaster. I marked one wall with a pencil at the required height of each shelf, i.e. Positioning The Battens On The First Wall The holes were 7/ 32 inch (5.5mm) drilled 50mm from each end of the battens. I went through the normal process of drilling and countersinking each batten for 2 × 3 inch (75mm) number 12 screws. The length of each batten was the same as the shelf width (the width of the two boards forming the shelf). The battens were made from planed pine wood 20mm thick from a DIY shop. NOTE: This work required an assistant to provide another pair of hands to hold pieces of timber in place from time to time. This severely hindered the normal process of drilling holes, tapping in wall anchors and screwing in screws. Why? The Victorian house walls on which the battens were fixed were crumbling underneath the plaster. I found myself fixing shelf battens to old walls for someone. They only required two supporting battens at each end of each shelf, but the job took much longer than expected. Fixing Shelf Battens And The Front Rail.Alternative Methods of Supporting The Shelf.Positioning The Batten On The Second Wall.Method of Fixing Shelf Battens To Old Walls.Positioning The Battens On The First Wall.