Most Oregon homes are wood-frame houses, with older bungalows and Craftsman homes in Portland, Eugene and Salem sitting alongside newer subdivisions and a large stock of manufactured homes. Earthquake risk, wet winters and wildfire smoke shape how TVs and media walls should be secured and where they should be placed.

median year homes were built: 1982; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 27.9%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 22.7%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 67.8%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 18.6%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 6.7%; mobile homes

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

Common wall types

Wood-frame walls with drywall

Where: Most houses statewide, including newer suburbs around Portland, Bend and Eugene.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag into studs with 5/16" lag bolts.

Plaster on lath

Where: Houses built before 1960, such as Portland bungalows and older homes in Eugene and Salem.

Mounting: Plaster can crack or crumble. Locate studs, pre-drill slowly, and use toggle bolts or snap toggles where needed.

Brick and unreinforced masonry

Where: Historic downtown buildings and some older houses and chimneys.

Mounting: Use masonry anchors in solid brick; keep heavy TVs away from unreinforced masonry chimneys, which are a known earthquake hazard in Portland retrofit guidance.

Basement and crawl space foundation walls

Where: Many Portland-area homes have basements or crawl spaces.

Mounting: Concrete or block walls need hammer-drilled 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve anchors.

Manufactured homes

Where: Rural counties and mobile-home communities.

Mounting: Walls are thin and studs may be spaced wider, so the mount must hit framing.

Concrete and metal-stud condos

Where: High-rise and mid-rise condos and apartments in Portland.

Mounting: Concrete needs hammer-drilled anchors; metal studs need snap toggles or blocking. Associations may require approval and a COI.

Tips before you mount

Lag the mount into at least two studs (usually 16" on center) with 5/16" lag bolts about 2.5" to 3" long; a full-motion arm multiplies leverage on the wall, so it must never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Earthquake zone: secure the mount into framing with lag bolts, use locking or anti-tip hardware where offered, and consider a strap or safety anchor for large TVs and media-wall furniture. Keep heavy TVs off unreinforced masonry chimneys.
Plaster and lath: find studs, pre-drill slowly, and use snap toggles for off-stud points. Never rely on plaster alone for a full-motion arm.
Concrete or block: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill, in solid face shells and not mortar joints where possible.
Metal studs in condos: use snap toggles rated for the TV and mount weight, or have wood blocking added behind the drywall.
Hiding wires: 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 run CL2- or CL3-rated low-voltage cable for in-wall HDMI and speaker lines.
Covered patios and outdoor rooms: wet winters and humidity argue for outdoor-rated TVs and stainless-steel hardware. Wildfire smoke can enter homes, so keep vents and electronics' airflow clear, and use filtered ventilation in enclosed media rooms.
Condos and HOAs: ask the association whether drilling or exterior penetrations need approval, and provide the installer's certificate of insurance (COI) if required. Before work starts, tell the installer the wall type, the TV size and weight, the mount type and whether the building has rules for contractors. These change the anchors, labor time and price.

Sources: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 1-year: Oregon (B25035, B25034, B25024) · City of Portland: Seismic retrofit options (wood frame, masonry chimneys) · Portland Monthly: Protect and prepare Portland homes for earthquake and wildfire smoke. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.