How To Guide: Wall Mounting A TV

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

When it comes to mounting anything on to a wall, nobody wants their expensive television to come crashing down on to the floor and breaking beyond repair. Therefore, secure installation is of the utmost importance, and this starts with making sure you have the correct tools for the job. You Will Need: A Drill: With the correct drill bits depending on which type of wall you’re mounting to. If you are mounting to a brick wall, masonry bits will be required, if not, twist bits will do the job. Screwdriver: This will be required to fix the bracket to the back of the television. Spirit Level: To make sure you are mounting your television evenly, precisely and securely. Stud Finder: If you are mounting on to brick walls, this tool will not be required. But in the case of stud or cavity walls, this tool will be required to make sure you drill in to the studs that support the wall, ensuring ultimate secure installation. Tape Measure: This will be used to determine the height at which you want your television to sit, and more importantly, to make sure the holes you drill are in the correct place to support the bracket that the television will be mounted on to. Spanner: A spanner may be needed to secure bolts during the installation process, but depending on the type of mount you have, this may not be necessary.

Step 2: Choose Your Bracket

Choosing the correct bracket is important for determining the angle at which your television will sit, and if this angle can be changed. There are three types of bracket to choose from: Fixed, Tilt and Full Motion. Fixed: This is the most basic form of bracket that allows your television to stay in a fixed position and allows for no movement after installation. Tilt: This form of bracket allows for slight movement up and down; this type of bracket is most useful for a particularly high-mounted television so that it can be angled to the correct position. Full Motion: This is the most unique and flexible of the three brackets. A full motion bracket is equipped with an adjustable arm that not only allows for upwards and downwards tilting, but can be moved outwards and to the left and right for full customisation of the position of your television, and allows for more freedom to rearrange the room should you want to. It is important to note that whichever bracket you choose must be compatible to your television, otherwise mounting will become impossible.

Step 3: Check That Your Wall Can Support The Weight Of Your Television And Find The Studs

Televisions keep getting thinner and sleeker, but that does not mean they are any lighter. You will need to make sure the wall you choose to mount the television on can handle its weight (average of 18kg for a 55-inch television). Once this has been established, with the help of your stud finder, locate the studs in the wall in the general location you wish to install your bracket. It is important to drill in to the studs of a stud or cavity wall, as the wall will not be able to support the weight if the bracket is installed on to a wall with empty space behind it and not a solid base.

Step 4: Figure Out The Positioning Of Your Television

Considering the amount of time you will undoubtedly spend staring at the television, it is important to make sure you’re comfortable while you do so. This coupled with the fact that you want your installation to be a one-time job, it is important to get it right. The best way to achieve the perfect positioning involves three people, two to hold the television and move it around, and a third to sit in the viewing position to direct those moving the television to the correct position. When you’re happy with the positioning, mark the edges and corners with either tape or pencil.

Step 5: Fix Your Bracket To The Wall

After you have determined your ideal positioning, hold your chosen bracket to the wall and mark out the bolt holes on the wall. Once this has been done, create smaller pilot holes to guide the drill into the wall. Then, using a drill bit compatible with the bolts that came with the bracket, drill in to the wall and studs to secure the bracket to the wall.

Step 6: Fix Your Bracket To The Television

Brackets and Wall Mounts will usually come in two parts, one to be attached to the wall, one to attach to the television. The bracket has been mounted to the wall, now its time to attach the other part of the bracket to the television, which will then be mounted to the wall part of the bracket. With most wall mounts, a pack of several different sizes of bolts will be provided. Bearing this in mind, it may take several attempts to find the bolts that are compatible to your specific television. Once you have figured out the correct size of bolt you need to use, attach the mount to the four holes located at the back of your television. You may also find some fastening screws included with your wall mount, fit these loosely in preparation for mounting.

Step 7: Mounting The Television Bracket On To The Wall Bracket

This is the final step of the mounting process. It is recommended to plug in all necessary cables in to the back of the television before you start mounting as you may not have much room to do this once the television is in place. The wall mount you have may be slightly different to a standard one, but most models of wall mount slot together, with the television bracket having hooks installed to attach to the wall bracket. Once the two brackets are placed correctly, fully tighten the fastening screws. It is recommended that you get some assistance with this step, just to make sure the two brackets are secured properly. Your television is now mounted on to your wall and should be perfectly secure. Hiding Your Cables: There are two options when it comes to disguising the sometimes-unsightly cables that require a television to operate. The best option for you depends on a number of factors, how many cables you have to hide, the type of wall you are mounting on to, and how much you are willing to sacrifice a clean finish over functionality. Trunking: Trunking is a hollow PVC tube that can be installed on to walls to hide cables and keep them organised, saving the hassle of having to thread cables through a wall, especially if you don’t have many cables to hide. It is important that you purchase a length of Trunking that will fit all of the wires comfortably, and for aesthetics, try to find a colour of Trunking that is the same or similar to your wall, but it can be painted if need be. If you are mounting a television to a brick wall, Trunking will be your only reasonable option, due to the solid nature of the wall. Threading Through The Wall: While Trunking can also be used, in the case of a Stud or Cavity Wall, you do have the option of threading the cables through the wall you mounted the television on to, so the cables are completely hidden. This is done by creating two holes, one to feed the cables through, and another just below it to thread them back out. It is recommended that if you choose to use this method, you should purchase cables that are longer than you think you’ll need, just to make sure the cables reach the power source.

You’re Done!

Upon completion of these steps, you should have a television that is mounted to the wall securely and safely, providing ultimate comfort and eliminating the need to spend extra money on an entertainment unit and having your options limited on where you can place the object all of your furniture is obviously pointed at.