Washington homes are overwhelmingly wood-frame with drywall, built to resist earthquakes and wind, and older Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane neighborhoods add plaster and lath. Multifamily is significant (about 14% of units are in buildings with 20 or more units), so concrete and metal-stud walls matter in Seattle and Bellevue.

median year homes were built: 1987; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 32.1%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 19.4%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 65.2%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 23.4%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 5.3%; 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 houses and townhomes, from Puget Sound suburbs to Spokane and the Tri-Cities.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into studs. Because Washington framing is designed for seismic loads, interior shear walls make solid anchoring points but you still need to hit the studs.

Plaster on lath

Where: Early-20th-century bungalows and craftsman houses in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Bellingham.

Mounting: Locate studs and pre-drill slowly. Toggle bolts suit light loads; heavy mounts should reach framing.

Concrete and metal-stud walls

Where: Mid- and high-rise condos and apartments in downtown Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma.

Mounting: Concrete requires hammer-drill anchors; metal studs need snap toggles or added blocking. Surface raceways are common.

Basement or retrofit concrete walls

Where: Hillside Seattle homes, daylight basements and garages.

Mounting: Use concrete screws or sleeve anchors for bare concrete; framed walls need studs located first.

Log, timber and thin-panel walls

Where: Rural log homes in the Cascades and eastern Washington; manufactured homes (about 5% of units).

Mounting: Mount to a framed panel on log walls; locate framing and add blocking on manufactured-home walls.

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.
Earthquake country: secure the mount into framing, use the mount's locking or safety-screw hardware, and consider anti-tip straps for TVs on consoles or media-wall shelving. Seattle's retrofit guidance focuses on bracing and anchoring the house to its foundation.
Do not place a heavy TV or built-in media wall on a masonry chimney, especially in older homes where the chimney may be unreinforced.
Plaster and metal-stud walls: use snap toggles or toggle bolts rated for the load, 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.
Condos in Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma: ask the association whether drilling into walls needs approval, and get the installer's certificate of insurance (COI) before work day.
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. In the damp Pacific Northwest climate, use an outdoor-rated TV, stainless-steel hardware and sealed connections for covered patios; in eastern Washington, also account for summer heat and wildfire smoke.
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: Washington (B25035, B25034, B25024) · City of Seattle SDCI: protect your home from earthquake damage · City of Seattle: 2021 Seattle Residential Code, Chapter 3. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.