Traditional plaster walls were always two or three-coat systems. A base coat of plaster was put over wood or metal lath. About eighty years ago plaster lath was invented.

With a 3/16-inch carbide-tipped masonry drill bit, bore holes through the plaster. The masonry bit will move through the plaster but won't easily penetrate the wooden lath.

Option 3: Standard picture-hanging hooks work wonders in plaster walls. These small “J” shaped metal hooks come in various sizes and can hold up to 100 pounds of weight.

Plaster walls were also popular in the early 1900s and is still found in historical homes built before WWII. (Drywall panels started to replace plaster in the 1950s).

Wall liner, a plain white wallpaper, can be used in much the same manner. It is hung with wallpaper paste, allowed to dry and then painted or wallpapered as the final finish.

In the process we destroyed the wall. The beadboard was glued on, and when it came down, so did a thin coat of something. I think it’s plaster.