Plaster walls can't hold weight on their own, but the right tools can help you hang more than you think. Plaster was the construction standard up until the 1940s, when drywall burst onto the market.

Plaster, a decorative wall coating of lime, sand, and sometimes fibers, has been around since the beginning of time—and so has plaster repair. Although subject to cracks and bubbles, it's a durable ...