On Friday, June 19, 2020 at 12:37:21 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2020 01:22:56 -0400, Clare Snyder
wrote:

On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:34:52 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 10:53:19 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:
On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:37:53 -0400, wrote:



Is it possible that the wall is plaster (and all that goes with it)
and not "drywall"?


If it's plaster - I hereby withdraw my suggestion
of using a utility knife ! :-)

My walls are truly annoying. Plaster over drywall.

3/8" plaster over 3/8" horizontal, 1x6, T&G, brown paper covered gypsum board?

Those are my walls.
Used to call it rock lath - full sheets were gyp rock

The 1x6 T&G under it would be a great improvement--at least there'd be
something there that would hold a nail.

It's not 1x6 T&G *wood*, it's 1x6 T&G gypsum board. Nail holding strength
is no better than drywall, AFAICT.