Missouri has a lot of brick: St. Louis was a major brick-making center, and brick houses and bungalows are common in St. Louis and Kansas City. Many older homes have plaster walls and limestone or brick basements, while newer suburbs use wood frame, and manufactured homes are about 5 percent of units.

median year homes were built: 1978; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 24.1%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 27.1%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 74.4%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 12.9%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 5%; mobile homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (tables B25035, B25034, B25024)

Common wall types

Solid and veneer brick

Where: St. Louis neighborhoods such as Soulard, Benton Park and Hyde Park, and brick bungalows in St. Louis and Kansas City.

Mounting: Solid brick walls need masonry anchors into the brick; brick veneer over wood frame means the interior is drywall or plaster on studs.

Plaster on lath

Where: Older houses in St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph and Hannibal historic districts.

Mounting: Plaster is brittle over wood lath. Find studs, pre-drill slowly and use toggle bolts when a stud is not available.

Wood-frame stud walls

Where: Interior partitions and exterior walls in most houses built since the mid-20th century.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into at least two studs; use a stud finder and confirm with a small pilot hole before drilling.

Stone or brick basement walls

Where: Older homes with limestone or brick foundations, particularly in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Mounting: Uneven stone is unsuitable for mounting; mount to solid block or concrete or to framing, and check for moisture.

Manufactured homes

Where: Rural areas, about 5 percent of units.

Mounting: Panels are thin and studs may be spaced wider, so the mount must hit framing.

Concrete and metal-stud apartments and condos

Where: Downtown St. Louis and Kansas City, Clayton and the Plaza area.

Mounting: Concrete needs a hammer drill and concrete anchors; metal-stud partitions need toggle-style anchors. Associations often require approval and a certificate of insurance.

Tips before you mount

Brick walls: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill, drilling into solid brick faces rather than mortar joints where possible. Older soft brick can crumble, so test a spot first and use a mount with a wider bearing plate.
Stud walls: studs are usually 16" on center. Lag the mount into at least two studs with 5/16" lag bolts, typically about 2.5" to 3" long. A full-motion arm puts much more leverage on the wall than a flat mount, so it needs studs or masonry and should never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Metal studs and plaster: use toggle bolts or snap toggles rated for the TV and mount weight, or have wood blocking added behind the wall. Plaster can crack if drilled carelessly, so locate framing first and pre-drill slowly.
Hiding wires: the National Electrical Code (NEC 400.12) does not allow a regular TV power cord to be concealed inside a wall. Use an in-wall rated recessed power kit, and choose low-voltage cable rated CL2 or CL3 for in-wall HDMI and speaker runs. Where walls are solid masonry, plan on a paintable surface raceway instead.
Over a fireplace: heat rising from a working fireplace can exceed a TV's operating limits, so check the manufacturer's specs, use a deep mantel or a pull-down mount, and never mount on a stone or brick surround without confirming it is solid and anchoring into it correctly. For patios and porches, use an outdoor-rated TV and stainless-steel hardware; Missouri's heat, humidity and freeze-thaw cycles can damage unrated indoor TVs.
Condos and lofts: ask the association whether drilling into concrete or exterior walls needs approval, and get the installer's certificate of insurance (COI) naming the association before work day.
Before work starts, tell the installer the wall type (studs, plaster, brick, block or concrete), the TV size and weight, the mount type and whether wires need to be hidden. These change the anchors, labor time and price.

Sources: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 1-year: Missouri (B25035, B25034, B25024) · St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis a leader in bricks · Foundation Recovery Systems: Missouri foundations. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.