Most Montana homes are wood-frame houses with drywall over studs, with basements or crawl spaces common and a notable share of log homes, older pre-1960 houses and manufactured homes. Walls in mountain resort areas and in historic towns such as Butte and Helena can differ from a standard modern stud wall.

median year homes were built: 1983; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 30.9%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 23.8%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 71.8%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 10.4%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 9.6%; mobile homes

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

Common wall types

Wood-frame stud walls

Where: Most single-family houses and newer subdivisions in Billings, Bozeman, Missoula and Kalispell.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into studs; energy-code walls in Montana use thicker insulation, so confirm stud depth and avoid hitting wiring.

Solid log or log-sided walls

Where: Mountain and rural homes, especially in western Montana; Montana log builders commonly use lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and western larch.

Mounting: Round or milled logs are uneven and have no drywall or studs. Use a spacer or flat mounting board lagged into the logs, and expect settling over time; wires usually go in surface raceways or a built-in chase.

Basement poured concrete or block walls

Where: Basement media rooms across the state; many homes sit on basement or crawl-space foundations.

Mounting: Use concrete screws or sleeve anchors with a hammer drill. Foundation walls are often furred out with studs, so check for framing first and keep drilling away from any radon mitigation piping.

Plaster and brick in older housing

Where: Historic districts and older neighborhoods in Butte, Helena and Great Falls; about a quarter of Montana housing predates 1960.

Mounting: Plaster can crack if drilled carelessly; find framing and pre-drill slowly. Use toggle bolts where studs cannot be reached, and anchor into brick faces rather than mortar joints.

Thin-walled manufactured homes

Where: About 9.6% of units statewide, common in rural areas and smaller towns.

Mounting: Wall panels are thin and studs may be spaced wider, so the mount must reach framing. Heavy or articulating mounts may need added blocking.

Tips before you mount

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 far more leverage on the wall than a flat mount, so it needs studs or masonry and should never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Log walls: fasten a flat hardwood or plywood mounting board to the logs with lag bolts into the log centers, then mount the TV to the board. Leave room for the settling that logs do, and use surface raceways or a pre-planned chase instead of cutting into logs.
Basement concrete or block walls: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill, placing anchors in solid concrete or block face shells rather than mortar joints and hollow cores where possible.
Plaster or older walls: locate framing with a stud finder, pre-drill slowly and use 3/8" toggle bolts or snap toggles rated for the load where there is no stud. Never rely on plaster alone for a full-motion arm.
Manufactured homes: locate studs, which may be on wider spacing than 16", and consider adding blocking inside the wall. Use lighter-duty mounts unless the installer can confirm framing.
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. Basement walls with radon pipes or insulation may limit in-wall runs; a paintable surface raceway is often the cleaner option.
Fireplaces and wood stoves are common in Montana. Heat rising above a firebox can exceed a TV maker's operating limits, and stone or masonry surrounds need masonry anchors; check the manufacturer's temperature range or mount the TV off to the side.
Before work starts, tell the installer the wall type (studs, plaster, masonry or concrete), the TV size and weight, and the mount type. These change the anchors, labor time and price.

Sources: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 1-year: Montana (B25035, B25034, B25024) · Montana DEQ: Energy Code Guide, New Home Construction (wall insulation requirements) · MSU Extension: Radon in Montana Homes (basement, slab and crawl-space foundations) · Distinctly Montana: New Trends in Designing and Building Log Homes in Montana. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.