Media Wall Installers in Portland

median year homes were built

1966

median year homes were built

built in 2000 or later

25.4%

built in 2000 or later

built before 1960

45.2%

built before 1960

single-family homes

56.6%

single-family homes

in buildings with 5+ units

35.7%

in buildings with 5+ units

mobile homes

1%

mobile homes

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

Common wall types

Craftsman bungalows with plaster or drywall

Where: Alberta Arts and other inner-neighborhoods.

Mounting: Studs 16 in on center; plaster in older homes; lag into studs and pre-drill plaster slowly.

Unreinforced masonry apartments and commercial buildings

Where: About 1,800 buildings identified by the city, many in older central areas.

Mounting: Use masonry anchors into solid brick, and ask the owner first; keep heavy TVs away from unretrofitted chimneys or brick parapet walls.

Concrete and metal-stud condos

Where: Pearl District and downtown mid- and high-rises.

Mounting: Concrete anchors or snap toggles; association approval and COI typically required.

Basement and crawl-space foundation walls

Where: Many older Portland houses.

Mounting: Hammer-drilled concrete screws; control moisture first.

New infill houses

Where: Newer infill in inner neighborhoods.

Mounting: Drywall on studs, often with tall ceilings.

Tips before you mount

• Portland sits in an earthquake zone: lag the mount into at least two studs and, for tall media walls, strap furniture and shelving to the wall framing.
• Some older bungalows were raised and given new foundations and seismic upgrades; ask the seller or contractor for the retrofit details, since new sill plates and shear walls change where blocking is.
• For brick buildings on the city's URM list, do not drill into the brick for heavy loads without asking the owner or an engineer, as retrofit status varies.
• Wet winters mean crawl-space humidity; avoid mounting electronics to foundation walls, and use stainless fasteners on covered porches.
• Wildfire smoke seasons push people to keep windows closed; plan ventilation for enclosed media nooks and equipment cabinets.
• Hidden wiring: use CL2 or CL3 rated cable and an in-wall rated power kit; NEC 400.12 does not allow a regular TV cord in a wall.