Media Wall Installers in Schenectady

median year homes were built

1941

median year homes were built

built in 2000 or later

8.3%

built in 2000 or later

built before 1960

69.9%

built before 1960

single-family homes

41.9%

single-family homes

in buildings with 5+ units

18.8%

in buildings with 5+ units

mobile homes

0.4%

mobile homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year, Schenectady city (tables B25035, B25034, B25024)

Common wall types

Plaster in early-1900s single-family houses

Where: GE Realty Plot, laid out east of Union College, with houses built 1900-1927.

Mounting: Large older houses often have deep plaster over lath. Locate studs with a pilot hole and lag into them; toggles suit lighter loads only.

Stockade-era brick and frame houses

Where: Stockade Historic District, one of the oldest residential districts in the state.

Mounting: Some walls are old brick or stone with plaster; use masonry anchors set into the brick face and check preservation rules before altering interiors if the building is protected.

Two-family and city frame houses

Where: Streets around Union Street and the city's established neighborhoods such as Union Triangle.

Mounting: Drywall or plaster over wood studs at roughly 16 in on center; lag into at least two studs.

Masonry basement and mill-area walls

Where: Basements in older houses and conversions of industrial buildings.

Mounting: Concrete screws or sleeve anchors into block or stone with a hammer drill; waterproof damp walls before framing.

Tips before you mount

• In Realty Plot houses, wall surfaces can include thick plaster and decorative paneling; a stud may sit under more than an inch of material, so choose lags long enough to reach 1.5 in into the stud.
• Large rooms with wood paneling or built-ins common in Realty Plot houses can hide wiring and chimney flues; check behind before cutting for recessed boxes.
• The Stockade is a designated historic district; exterior changes visible from the street, including mounted hardware, generally need review, so confine installations to interiors.
• Winters are long and the Mohawk Valley area gets freeze-thaw cycles; for covered porches or garages, use outdoor-rated displays and stainless or coated hardware.
• On older brick, mortar is often soft; drill into the brick face with a masonry bit, avoid joints, and use anchors sized for brick rather than block.
• Use CL2 or CL3 rated cable and an in-wall rated power kit for concealed runs; NEC 400.12 does not allow a regular cord in the wall, and plaster-over-lath walls often make a raceway easier.