Virginia homes are mostly wood-frame houses with drywall, frequently faced with brick veneer, plus older plaster-and-lath houses in places such as Richmond, Alexandria and Charlottesville. Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads also have significant multifamily housing, including concrete and metal-stud condo buildings, and the state has manufactured homes in rural areas.

median year homes were built: 1985; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 28.3%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 18.9%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 72.2%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 18.8%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 4.4%; 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 houses and townhomes across the state, including Loudoun, Prince William, Chesterfield and Virginia Beach suburbs.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into studs; heavy TVs and arms should never rely on drywall anchors.

Brick veneer over wood framing

Where: Exterior walls of many Virginia houses, common in the Richmond, Tidewater and Northern Virginia suburbs.

Mounting: Interior mounting still goes into the wood frame. For outdoor walls, locate the framing behind the veneer and avoid drilling through brick joints where water can enter.

Plaster on lath

Where: Pre-1950 homes in historic districts such as Old Town Alexandria, Church Hill in Richmond and downtown Charlottesville.

Mounting: Plaster is brittle; locate studs and pre-drill. Use toggle bolts only for light loads.

Concrete and metal-stud walls

Where: Mid- and high-rise condos and apartments in Arlington, Alexandria, Tysons and Norfolk; about 9% of Virginia units are in buildings with 20 or more units.

Mounting: Concrete needs hammer-drill anchors, and metal studs need toggles or added blocking. In-wall runs are limited, so surface raceways are common.

Solid masonry (brick or block) walls

Where: Older rowhouses and some basement or garage walls.

Mounting: Use concrete screws or sleeve anchors into solid brick faces or block face shells, avoiding mortar joints where possible.

Thin paneled walls

Where: Manufactured homes (about 4% of units), more common in rural areas.

Mounting: Locate framing and add blocking if using a heavy or articulating mount.

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.
Brick and block walls: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill, going into solid brick faces or block face shells rather than mortar joints and hollow cores where possible.
Metal studs (common in Northern Virginia condos): use snap toggles rated for the TV and mount weight, 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. In concrete or masonry walls, plan for a paintable surface raceway.
Condos and co-ops in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax: ask the association whether drilling into walls needs approval, and get the installer's certificate of insurance (COI) naming the association before work day.
Plaster in historic districts: before drilling, check whether the home is in a local historic district or has a homeowner association with exterior rules; interior work is usually unaffected, but exterior mounts for a patio TV may need approval.
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. Outdoors on a covered porch or deck, use an outdoor-rated TV and corrosion-resistant hardware, especially near the coast in Hampton Roads.
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: Virginia (B25035, B25034, B25024) · Fairfax County: practical wall bracing (Virginia Residential Code R602.12) · Hanover County: Virginia Residential Code practical wall bracing. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.