Is Your Salt Lake City Home Unreinforced Masonry, and Does That Change Your Remodel?
Salt Lake City has one of the largest concentrations of unreinforced masonry homes in the country, roughly 30,000 brick homes built before 1970 without steel reinforcement in the walls. The city runs its own retrofit grant program for exactly this reason, and if your home is one of them, it's worth knowing about before, or during, a major remodel.
Unreinforced Masonry Risk
Fix the Bricks Grant
Combining With a Remodel
What Is an Unreinforced Masonry Home, and Why Does Salt Lake City Have So Many?
Homes built before roughly 1975 in Salt Lake City often used brick or masonry bearing walls without steel reinforcing bars tying them together, standard construction at the time, but a genuine seismic vulnerability now that we understand the risk. Salt Lake City sits directly along the Wasatch Fault, which makes this a real, documented concern rather than a hypothetical one.
Source: Working Group on Utah Earthquake Probabilities (USGS) and FEMA estimates, as reported by Insurance Journal and Salt Lake City Emergency Management.
If your home was built before the mid-1970s and has brick exterior walls, it's worth checking whether it's classified as URM, since this affects both your safety planning and what's worth considering during a larger remodel.
Ask If Your Home Qualifies →Does Salt Lake City Actually Help Pay for Seismic Retrofits?
Yes. Salt Lake City runs a program called Fix the Bricks specifically for URM homeowners, funded through FEMA disaster mitigation grants.
Source: Salt Lake City Fix the Bricks program page. Applications and waitlist status can change; check the current program status directly with the city.
The program has historically had a waitlist given demand, so it's worth applying early if you're considering it, ideally before you're mid-project on a larger remodel.
See Kitchen & Bath Remodel Details →Does a Seismic Retrofit Make Sense to Combine With a Remodel?
If you're already planning a basement finish or major addition on an older Salt Lake City home, it can make sense to have a URM retrofit assessment done at the same time. Common retrofit work, like tying the roof structure to the walls or bracing parapets, is often easier to plan around when walls or ceilings are already opened up for other work.
We're not seismic retrofit specialists ourselves, but we can flag whether your home appears to be URM during a project walkthrough and point you toward Fix the Bricks or a qualified structural engineer if it's relevant to your plans.
See Basement Finishing Details →What Should a Salt Lake City Remodel Quote Ask?
For any older Salt Lake City home, ask a contractor:
- Do they know how to identify unreinforced masonry construction?
- Will they flag it if your home appears to be a URM candidate for Fix the Bricks?
- Can retrofit-adjacent work be planned alongside your remodel to avoid opening walls twice?
None of this is required for a standard kitchen or bathroom remodel, but it's worth raising if your home's age and construction type make it relevant.
Tell us the age and construction type of your Salt Lake City home, and we'll flag anything worth knowing before we quote your project.
Get My Free Consultation →Salt Lake City Renovation FAQs
How do I know if my home is unreinforced masonry?
Homes built before roughly 1975 with brick or masonry bearing walls are the most likely candidates. A structural engineer or the Fix the Bricks program can confirm this for your specific home.
Is the Fix the Bricks program still accepting applications?
Program status changes over time and has historically had a waitlist. Check directly with Salt Lake City's Housing Stability Division for current availability.
Can you perform seismic retrofits yourselves?
Seismic retrofit work typically requires a specialized structural engineer's assessment. We can flag the issue and help coordinate timing if you're doing a broader remodel alongside a retrofit.
Does a URM designation affect my home's insurance?
This is a question best directed to your insurance provider, since coverage and premiums vary by carrier and policy.
Do newer Salt Lake City homes have this issue?
Generally no. Building codes adopted after the mid-1970s require reinforced construction, so this specifically concerns older homes.
What Does a Renovation in Salt Lake City Typically Cost?
Renovating in Salt Lake City isn’t just about updating appearances — it’s about improving comfort, increasing property value, and keeping pace with the style and functionality expected in Utah’s capital. With a mix of historic homes, modern builds, and hillside properties, remodels here often require thoughtful design and a balance of high-quality finishes and practical upgrades.
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range | ROI (Avg.) |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Kitchen Renovation | $35,000 – $55,000 | Up to 96% |
| Upscale Kitchen Renovation | $80,000+ | ~38% |
| Midrange Bathroom Renovation | $20,000 – $35,000 | ~66% |
| Basement Finishing / Remodel | $55,000 – $100,000+ | ~70–75% |
| Whole-Home Renovation | $150,000 – $350,000+ | Varies |
| Home Addition | $200–$350 per sq. ft. | ~50–60% |
Costs vary depending on whether your Salt Lake City home is a historic bungalow, a downtown modern build, or a hillside property with structural considerations. From basement finishes to luxury kitchens, we provide a transparent, line-item breakdown so you know exactly how your investment is allocated.