Most Utah homes are wood-frame houses with drywall, often finished outside with brick veneer or stucco, and about 42% of units were built since 2000. Older neighborhoods in Salt Lake City and along the Wasatch Front include pre-1940s brick houses, and the state's earthquake exposure makes secure framing attachment and anti-tip hardware worth planning for.

median year homes were built: 1994; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 42%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 13.7%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 73.5%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 16.7%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 3%; mobile homes

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

Common wall types

Wood-stud walls with drywall

Where: Most single-family homes and townhomes, especially the suburban growth along the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake, Utah and Davis counties) and in St. George.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into studs; for heavy TVs or full-motion arms, add blocking between studs during construction or open-wall work.

Brick or stone veneer over wood framing

Where: Exterior walls of many suburban houses; the veneer is decorative and sits over a wood-frame wall.

Mounting: Do not mount into the veneer for interior TV work; the structure is the wood frame behind it. For outdoor TVs on a veneered patio wall, locate the framing behind the veneer or use masonry anchors only where the wall is solid.

Unreinforced masonry (historic brick)

Where: Pre-1940s brick houses in older Salt Lake City neighborhoods such as the Avenues and Yalecrest; sources estimate roughly 98,000 unreinforced masonry structures in Salt Lake County.

Mounting: Solid brick takes masonry anchors, but the walls are brittle and mortar can be soft. Use concrete screws or sleeve anchors into brick faces, not mortar joints, and avoid hanging heavy TVs on chimneys.

Plaster on lath

Where: Pre-1950 houses in older parts of Salt Lake City and Ogden.

Mounting: Plaster cracks if drilled carelessly. Locate studs, pre-drill slowly, and use toggle bolts for light loads between studs.

Poured concrete and block basement walls

Where: Finished basements used for home theaters, common on the Wasatch Front.

Mounting: Frame walls with furring need studs found behind the drywall; bare foundation walls need concrete anchors. Watch for moisture before building an enclosed media wall.

Thin framing

Where: Manufactured homes (about 3% of units statewide).

Mounting: Locate the framing; wall panels are thin and 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 should never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Earthquake risk: the Wasatch Front is seismically active. Secure the mount into framing (not drywall anchors), use the mount's locking or safety-screw hardware, and consider anti-tip straps for TVs on media consoles.
Do not place a heavy TV or built-in media wall against an unreinforced masonry chimney or an unbraced brick wall in older Salt Lake City homes; mount on a framed interior wall instead.
Brick walls: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill and masonry bit, drilling into the solid brick face rather than mortar joints where possible.
Plaster or metal-stud walls: use snap toggles or toggle bolts rated for the load, or have the installer add wood blocking behind the drywall.
Hiding wires: the National Electrical Code (NEC 400.12) does not allow a regular TV power cord to run inside the wall. Use an in-wall rated recessed power kit, and choose low-voltage cables rated CL2 or CL3 for in-wall HDMI and speaker runs.
Over a fireplace: check the TV maker's heat limits and measure the surface temperature after the fireplace has run. If the mantel or surround is hot, mount the TV elsewhere or use a deeper mantel and a pull-down mount. Utah homes often have gas fireplaces with stone or tile surrounds.
Condos and townhomes in Salt Lake City, Provo and Park City: check the association's rules before drilling shared walls, and get the installer's certificate of insurance (COI) if the association requires it. 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: Utah (B25035, B25034, B25024) · Keep Yalecrest: seismic retrofitting your home (Salt Lake City historic district) · Salt Lake Tribune: unreinforced masonry homes and historic buildings. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.