TV Wall Mounting on Drywall vs Brick: What Works

Brick or drywall, the wall behind your TV decides more than the bracket does. Both can carry a screen safely, but they need very different fixings. Here's how TV wall mounting works on each, and when one wall is simply the better choice.

Drywall vs brick at a glance

If you only read one part, read this table. It sums up what we look for before we drill in a Wellington home.

Question	Brick wall	Drywall
How strong is it?	Very strong when the brick is sound	Strong only at the studs
Usual fixing	Heavy plugs and coach screws	Screws into studs, or a backing board
Large TV on a swing arm?	Yes, with good fixings	Only with studs or a backing board
Hiding cables inside	Needs chasing and patching	Easier, cables drop down the cavity
Drilling mess	More dust	Less dust, but holes show if you move the TV

TV wall mounting on brick

Most freestanding houses in Newton, Hillcrest and Groenvallei have brick outer walls and often brick inner walls too. That's good news. A solid brick takes a strong plug and holds it tight for years. We see the same walls when we do a new DStv installation and fix cable clips outside.

What we use

For a standard brick wall, we drill a clean hole sized for the plug, then fix the bracket with coach screws long enough to reach well past the plaster. Plaster itself carries no weight, so the screw must bite into the brick behind it.

When brick gets tricky

Not every brick is equal. Some older homes have soft clay bricks that crumble when drilled, and hollow blocks have air gaps inside. A plug can spin in either one.

In those walls we switch to chemical anchors. The resin fills the hole, sets hard and gives the bolt something solid to hold. It needs time to cure, so we plan the job around that.

Where the hole lands

Drilling into a mortar joint gives a weak grip. We move the bracket slightly, or turn it, so the screws land in the brick itself. A few centimetres sideways makes a real difference.

TV wall mounting on drywall

Drywall is common in townhouse complexes, newer extensions and student housing. It's a gypsum board fixed to a frame of timber or metal studs. The board on its own is soft, so the studs do the real work. The hollow cavity is also handy for network cable, which we run as part of WiFi and network cabling.

Finding the studs

Studs usually run upright at regular spacing behind the board. A stud finder helps, and so does a careful knock: a hollow sound means cavity and a duller sound means a stud. We confirm with a small test hole before fixing the bracket.

When studs are in the wrong place

Sometimes the studs don't line up with where you want the TV. Then we either use a bracket with a wide plate that reaches two studs, or fit a timber backing board between the studs. That turns a weak spot into a solid one.

Cavity anchors and their limits

Metal cavity anchors and spring toggles open up behind the board and spread the load. They're fine for a small, light TV on a fixed bracket. For heavier screens they're a backup, not the main fixing, because the board can crack around them.

How to tell which wall you have

You don't need tools to make a good first guess. These simple checks tell you most of what you need to know before you buy a bracket.

1. Knock firmly. Brick sounds dull and solid everywhere. Drywall sounds hollow between studs.
2. Look at a light switch or plug cover. Drywall boxes sit flush in thin board.
3. Check the other side of the wall. A garage or passage may show the frame or brick.
4. Press gently. Drywall flexes very slightly between studs.
5. Send us a photo and the room's location on WhatsApp if you're still unsure.

Why full motion arms change everything

A fixed bracket keeps the TV close to the wall, so the load pulls mostly downwards. A full motion arm holds the screen out in front. That turns the arm into a lever, and the top fixings take far more strain than the TV's weight alone suggests.

On sound brick, that's rarely a problem. On drywall, an extended arm with a big screen is the setup most likely to fail. We often suggest a tilt bracket instead for drywall, or a backing board if the arm is a must. Our TV bracket fitting team will tell you honestly which one your wall can carry.

Hiding the cables in each wall type

Cables are the other big difference between the two walls. Most people want HDMI, power and the satellite cable out of sight, and the wall decides how easy that is.

• Drywall: we can often drop cables down the cavity to a plate near the floor, with little mess.
• Brick: cables inside the wall mean chasing a channel and plastering over, so many people choose neat painted trunking instead.
• Both: leave enough slack at the TV so the ports aren't strained when the bracket tilts.

Older farmhouses in Bovlei and Dal Josafat often have long runs from the dish to the lounge. If the satellite cable is old or patched, it's worth replacing while the wall is open. Our post on DStv decoder cables explains what to look for.

For complexes with a shared dish, the TV point is set by the building. Our communal DStv installation team can move or add a point inside your unit before the TV goes up.

Which wall should you choose?

If the room gives you a choice, choose brick for a large TV or a swing arm. Choose drywall when you want cables hidden inside the wall with the least mess, and the TV is on a fixed or tilt bracket. Either way, plan the decoder spot at the same time.

Adding a recording decoder? Ask about Explora Ultra installation on the same visit. Your TV, decoder and cabling can then be set up in one go. For a second room, see what a dual view installation involves.

Book TV wall mounting in Wellington

We mount TVs across Wellington, Mbekweni and the farms towards Paarl, on brick, drywall and the odd wall that's a bit of both. Our TV wall mounting service covers TV wall mounting and installation with the right fixings and tidy cables.

We're also the team for DStv installation in Wellington, so the dish and decoder can be checked on the same trip. Get in touch with our team with a photo of your wall and the TV model, and we'll quote first.

TV wall mounting: FAQs

Can I mount a TV on drywall without studs?

Only a small, light TV on a fixed bracket, using strong metal cavity anchors. Larger screens or swing arms need the studs or a timber backing board. Without them, the board can crack around the anchors and the TV can pull away from the wall over time.

Is TV wall mounting on brick better than on drywall?

For heavy screens and full motion arms, sound brick is stronger and simpler. Drywall makes it easier to hide cables inside the wall. Both are safe when the right fixings go into solid material: brick behind the plaster, or studs behind the board.

What TV mount screws should I use in brick?

Use heavy-duty plugs with coach screws long enough to pass well through the plaster into the brick. For soft or hollow brick, chemical anchors grip better. The short screws in the bracket box are often not long enough for plastered walls.

Do you do TV wall mounting in Wellington townhouse complexes?

Yes. Many complexes have drywall between rooms, so we find the studs or fit a backing board first. Some body corporates have rules on drilling or changes to shared walls, so check with them before booking the job.

How much weight can drywall hold for a TV?

It depends on the anchors, the board and whether you hit a stud, so there's no single figure. Screws into studs hold far more than anchors in board alone. Check your bracket's rating and your TV's weight, and fix into studs for anything large.