Aug 20
4
Mounting a TV on the wall is one of those jobs that looks harder than it is. If you take your time, use the right fixings for the wall, and get someone to help you lift, you can get a neat, safe finish without calling anyone out. This version keeps things simple and avoids overloading you with tools and lists.
What You Need
You will need a drill, a spirit level, a pencil, a tape measure, and the fixings that came with the bracket. A stud/cable finder is strongly recommended so you don’t drill into pipes or electrics. Try to have a second person with you to help lift the TV onto the bracket.
Step 1: Work Out the Wall
Your first job is to find out what you are fixing to. A solid wall (brick, block, concrete) will usually take the bracket directly with masonry plugs. A stud wall (plasterboard on timber) needs you to screw into the timber uprights. If you are not sure, run a stud/cable finder over the wall. Don’t drill until you know what’s behind it.
Step 2: Decide the Position
Sit where you normally watch TV and look at the wall. Mark the centre point where you want the TV to be. This stops you putting it too high. TV screens almost always look nicer slightly above eye level when you are seated. Use that centre mark to line everything up.
Step 3: Check for Services
Before you drill, scan the area with your cable/pipe finder. If it shows a live cable or a pipe, move the bracket a little and test again. It’s much easier to shift the TV 50mm than to repair a mains cable.
Mounting on a Brick or Block Wall
Hold the back plate of the bracket against the wall over your centre mark. Put the spirit level on the plate and get it perfectly level. Mark the fixing holes through the bracket. Drill the holes with a masonry bit to the right depth, tap the plugs in, and then bolt the bracket plate to the wall. It should feel solid with no wobble. Now fix the two bracket arms to the back of the TV using the screws and spacers supplied. With two people, lift the TV and hang or lock it onto the wall plate, then secure it with the safety screws.
Mounting on a Stud or Plasterboard Wall
Stud walls need more care. You must screw into the timber, not just the plasterboard. Use a stud finder and mark where two uprights are. Offer the bracket up so that at least two of its fixing points line up with studs. Level it, mark the holes, and drill pilot holes into the studs. Use strong wood screws or coach screws to fix the bracket. Once it is fixed, attach the bracket arms to the TV and lift the TV onto the bracket.
If the studs are not where you want the TV, you can first fix a horizontal timber or board across two studs, and then mount the bracket to that. This spreads the load.
Cables and Connections
A simple trick is to plug everything in before you hang the TV. Slim brackets can make it awkward to reach the sockets once the TV is on the wall. Leave a little bit of slack in the leads so you can move the TV if you need to.
Safety and Common Mistakes
Always lift with two people. Always use a level. Don’t fix a heavy TV to plasterboard alone. Don’t guess what fixings to use – use the ones meant for the wall you have. Don’t mount the TV too high just because it looks good when you are standing up.
When to Get Help
If the wall is weak, if the TV is very large or very heavy, if you want cables hidden in the wall, or if you simply don’t like drilling near electrics, get a professional installer. They will have better fixings and will do it faster. But for most standard walls and average TVs, the steps above are enough to do a clean DIY installation.
