How to Mount a Flat Screen TV

AgainBen

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posted on 16 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Mounting a flat screen TV to your wall is an aesthetically pleasing experience that you're sure to enjoy. With the proliferation of flat screen, HD, and plasma TVs, more and more people have started mounting TVs to their walls. In fact, it's relatively easy and inexpensive. A sturdy wall mount need only set you back $50 or $60 dollars. For a detailed guide on how to mount your TV to the wall, read on.

Steps

Mount the Brackets to Your Flat Screen TV

Obtain a correctly-sized bracket either online or at an electronic retail store. Any major electronic retailer should be able to help you with this purchase if you have questions. Generally, brackets come in a size range. This means you can buy a bracket that fits a range of TVs. For example, you might purchase a bracket that fits 32 to 56 inch (81.3 to 142.2 cm) televisions. Any flatscreen TV within this size range should fit the bracket, unless otherwise stated.Mount a Flat Screen TV Step 1Bullet1.jpg

Remove the base that comes with the TV if it is attached. If the base is not already attached when you open the box, do not put it on; you'll just have to take it off later.

Lay the TV on its face (glass down) on a soft, padded, flat item. If you have any reservations about laying your plasma TV glass-down on the carpet or floor, check the owner's manual for guidance. Some plasma screen manufacturers recommend working with the flat screen facing upright while attaching the brackets.

Look for the four holes on the back of the TV. Those are where you will place the bracket you purchased. There might be three pieces to your mount. The two small brackets will attach to your TV. Remove any screws plugging the holes if necessary. Many TVs manufacturers plug their mounting holes with screws during assembly.

Put the mounting brackets on the back of the TV, aligning them as stated in your mounting directions. Make sure that the brackets are facing the correct way when screwed to the TV.

Use a screwdriver to tighten any remaining bolts. The bracket should be firmly bolted to the TV, without any wiggle room. You may need to use some washers that come with the bracket to get a tight fit.

Mount the Flat Screen TV to the Wall

Find the wall studs. Mark the centers of the wall studs you will screw into. Wooden wall studs in all modern homes are 1.5" (3.8 cm) thick. Homes built in the 1920's and earlier are thicker, either 2" (5.1 cm) or 1 3/4" (4.4 cm) thick. You must screw every lag screw into a stud because a TV is much too heavy to be supported by drywall or plaster alone. Also, if the stud is wooden (some are metal), you must screw into the center. If you put it in near an edge, the wood could split and the lag screw would have almost no strength. The best way to find the studs is with a stud finder, which you may be able to rent, but they are cheap to buy. Stud finders, especially cheap ones, and especially if the wall is plaster and not drywall, are not accurate enough to guarantee that you find the exact center of a wall stud.Therefore, you need to drill a few 1/8" (0.32 cm) test holes where the stud finder tells you the stud is. You will know when they hit wood, and this is your only guarantee. Warning: Drill the test holes only slightly deeper than the thickness of the wall. There may be cables next to the wall stud that you could drill into Without a stud finder, you can knock on the wall until you find a hard spot, then drill holes to find the exact location of the wall stud. Using the wall bracket as a guide, holding it level with a small level, mark the spots to drill the holes. You may not need a level because very large brackets have a built in level. Mount a Flat Screen TV Step 8.jpg

Drill pilot holes of the diameter given in the instructions.

Place the mounting bracket on the wall and screw in the lag bolts using a socket wrench or plyers. To assure that it will be level, mount it with one lag bolt and check if it is level. Check if any pilot holes should be re-drilled. Cut two holes in your wall if you want to fish the cords through and keep them hidden. Be very care not to cut a cable when cutting into the wall.Mount a Flat Screen TV Step 11Bullet1.jpg In the middle of the mounting bracket, cut a square hole. Your mounting bracket should have a square hole designed for this.Mount a Flat Screen TV Step 11Bullet2.jpg One foot from the ground, cut another square hole into the drywall. This hole may be smaller than the first hole.Mount a Flat Screen TV Step 11Bullet3.jpg Feed your cords into one hole and out the other. To guide the wires, drop a nut with a string tied to it from the top hole and pull it out at the bottom.

Pick up your TV and hang it on the bracket. You may need a person to help you. Tighten the nuts or set screws that attach the bracket to the TV.

Make sure that the bracket is sturdy and can hold the weight of the TV before you let go. Plug in your cables to their respective homes and turn on your power.