Large TVs are becoming more and more affordable as dozens of brands and models pop up in the market. Buying a huge TV is one of the first things that you would do as a homeowner to ensure that you get a good viewing experience.
You can get smart TVs as small as 14 inches or as huge as 65 inches. You can even purchase a bigger TV if your budget allows. Manufacturers now prefer large TVs over the smaller ones because of the decrease in the manufacturing cost. The challenge though is to look for a place to set-up the TV that gives the best angle, without making the room look overcrowded. A practical solution for this problem, especially if you don’t have much space in your place, is to mount your tv on the wall.
Mounting your TV on the wall offers a lot of benefits. Aside from allowing you to save floor space, it also allows you to maximize your TV’s viewing potential. If you also have children or pets, wall mounting keeps your TV out of reach from them. TV wall mounting may seem an easy task, but you need to have the right tools, the right bracket, and the proper knowledge to do this successfully. If you don’t mount your TV correctly, it might lead to an accident that may permanently damage your TV, not to mention it can cause injury to your family.
There are a lot of things to keep in mind in mounting a TV. In this guide, we will show you all the factors you need to consider, all the tools and materials you need, and all the necessary steps on how to mount TV on your wall.
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Before Mounting TV on Wall
Check Your Walls
Most walls can support a TV, but the right way of mounting a TV may differ from the type of wall you have. Generally, there are two different types of walls: brick and stud.
Brick Walls
Brick walls are strong enough to support any TV. However, you have to make sure that the mounts go into the brick, not the mortar. Mounting your TV into the mortar makes the mounting less stable and less secure. If you want to mount your TV into the brick, use heavy-duty wall anchors as it is designed to support heavy weight on a brick.
Stud Walls
Studs are the frames you see in internal walls as an alternative to solid walls. These studs are fundamental in frame construction and can either be wooden or metal. Interior walls are then formed using these studs together with plasterboards.
When mounting your tv on a wooden stud wall, it is better to install it on the studs as these are strong enough to support your TV. To make sure you mount it on a stud, you can use a device called a stud finder. A stud finder reads the density of the material of your wall. By slowly moving the stud finder from side to side, it can detect and tell you which part is a stud.
However, if you are planning to mount your tv on the plasterboard, you need to use special plasterboard fixings. Make sure that the fixing’s capacity can support the weight of your tv. For metal stud walls, your TV will need to be fixed on the plasterboard so take note of this instruction.
Measure Your TV
Measuring your TV is crucial, so you know which bracket or wall mount is the right fit for your TV. Most TVs and brackets follow the standard called Video Electronics Standards Association or VESA. VESA refers to the distance between the vertical holes and horizontal holes on the back of your TV. All brackets and wall mounts that follow this standard should match the holes of your VESA-compliant TV.
Given this measurement standard, you don’t need to measure your whole TV. You just need a tape measure to measure the distance between the holes on the back of your TV horizontally and vertically. The vertical distance and horizontal distance are your VESA dimension.
Choose the Right Mounting Bracket
Knowing the VESA dimension of your TV is not enough to determine the right mounting bracket for your TV. You have to make sure that the bracket can support the size and take the weight of your TV. There are a variety of brackets you can choose from in the market. Generally, these brackets fall into three styles: low-profile, tilting, and full-motion mounts.
Low-profile Mounts
Low-profile mounts are usually the cheapest. This kind of mount offers basic mounting, focused solely on holding the TV close to the wall, without any flexibility. You can’t adjust your angle or the height of your TV.
Tilting Mounts
Tilting mounts offer more adjustability. This kind of mount allows you to adjust the position of the screen to suit your situation. This function is helpful so you can tweak the angle to match your location.
Full-motion Mounts
Full-motion mounts are the most versatile as it allows you to tilt, rotate, extend, and turn the TV. This kind of mount enables you to watch TV at different angles, for your convenience.
Prepare All Necessary Tools and Materials
It is best to prepare all the necessary tools and materials before you proceed with your TV wall mounting. You will need the following equipment:
- Mounting bracket
- Tape Measure
- Stud Finder
- Spirit Level
- Screwdriver
- Pencil
- Drill
- Adjustable Wrench
- Rawl Plugs
Note that you may need other equipment depending on the type of bracket you have.
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Step-by-Step Guide on How to Mount TV on Wall
Decide Where You Want to Fix Your TV
Make sure you are certain where you want to fix your TV, you wouldn’t want to do all the steps again just because your TV is in the wrong position. You can get a big sheet of paper and draw a template of your TV. When you are satisfied with the position of the paper, mark the wall where you want to mount your TV using a pencil. Once you’re done, take a step back and determine whether your viewing experience would be pleasant given the height and angle of your TV.
Fix the Mount to the Wall
Wall mounts usually have two parts: the one you fix to the wall and the one you attach to your TV. For the bracket you set to the wall, hold it first to the wall following the mark you made with your template. Keep the bracket straight using a spirit level, then mark the drill holes using a pencil. Once you think the bracket and the marks are in the right position, you can start drilling holes in the wall. Make sure that before you drill, you double-check that you will not hit any electrical cables. After drilling, place the rawl plugs inside the holes.
Fit the Bracket to Your TV
For the other part of the bracket, you just have to attach it to the four holes on the back of your TV. Screw the bolts to the holes using a screwdriver.
Plug All the Cables
Plug all the cables you need to the back of your TV. These cables are usually the power, aerial, and HDMI cables. We suggest you plug all necessary cables before mounting the TV on the wall because space may be tight once you fix your TV to the wall.
Lift and Mount the TV into Place
Lift the TV into the wall mount. We recommend you get some help in lifting the TV especially if it’s heavy. Once you have placed the TV into place, secure the two parts of the bracket by tightening the screws with a screwdriver.
Hide the Cables
Mounting your TV on the wall is good for aesthetics until your cables stretching and dangling everywhere ruin it. There are a few options you can do to avoid this problem.
Install Power Outlet Behind TV
This is pretty much straight-forward. Installing a power outlet behind your TV will hide the cord and prevent it from dangling.
Purchase a Cord-Hider
There are cord-hiders or cord-covers available in the market that camouflage the cords on your wall.
Use Trunking
You can also buy trunking where you can fit all your wires. Trunking is a viable option if you only have a few cables.
Thread Them on the Wall
Threading your cables involves making a hole behind the TV where you will thread all the cables. This method is useful if you have a lot of cables.
Install the Cords Inside the Wall
You can also install the cords inside the wall, but this needs professional help unless you want to accidentally ruin your wall.
Remember that the materials and steps in TV wall mounting may vary if you have a special type of bracket. If you are not confident mounting the TV by yourself, you can get a professional to do the job for you. Aerialforce offers same-day wall mounting services to help you fix your TV on the best location to maximize your viewing potential. Aerialforce has local engineers that are well-trained to ensure you get the best viewing experience at your home.