Guide to mounting a TV on the wall

The new class of TVs are thinner and lighter than the original flat panels that were introduced a few years ago, and this makes mounting them easier for the DIY owner. The steps involved remain the same, in this article we will try to guide you through these steps.

The first step is deciding where to mount your television. Obviously, your television should be easily and comfortably visible from your point of view. But, there are two things to consider, the height and brightness of the screen. The height should allow you a comfortable point of view without being so high that it causes strain on your neck. The best way to determine height is to get into a comfortable viewing position and observe where you plan to mount the TV and this is generally where you want to mount the TV. The brightness of the screen is generally determined by the amount of light streaming into the room,

so try to avoid mounting in a place that receives direct sunlight.

The next step is to decide how you will run your cables, there are several ways to hide your power and A / V cables; from quick and simple cover-ups to more labor-intensive wall options. It's a good idea to find out how you would like to manage your cables before deciding where to mount your TV, as some points may be more conducive to your preferred method than others. Just remember that the location must be accessible for a power supply and A / V outlet, it is a good idea to measure your cables and the distance to the outlets to make sure they arrive.

Okay, now is the time to mount the TV part of the mount, the wall mounts are generally made up of two pieces, one to be fixed to the TV and the other to be mounted on the wall. The part on the TV then sticks to the part on the wall, that is, you have a wall mounted TV. Your first step will be to place the TV part of the bracket on the back of your TV Mountings some models have the holes covered with plastic, just use a screwdriver to remove them. Remember to try not to turn on the TV during this process. Now align the holes in the bracket with the hole in the back of your TV and screw them in, the screws for these holes are usually included in the mounting kit.

The next step is to install the wall part, so that you can mount your TV on the wall, you will need to drill the bracket on the wooden studs. Once you have chosen your ideal location for mounting the TV, use a high quality bolt finder to locate the bolts nearby. Verify that the mounting holes in the bracket are aligned with the center of the bolts, this is done by looking at the center of the bolt using a nail to find the ends of the bolt and measuring between the holes. Always use a level to verify that the bracket is level before attaching it to the wall. Have your helper hold it steady as you screw it to the wall to make sure it stays level. Be sure to follow the mounting instructions in the owner's manual.

The last step is to route the cables before hanging the TV, to the desired location, lift the TV and connect the cables to it, and finally connect the wall bracket to the bracket part of the TV. In this step, it is highly recommended that you have a helper to help you lift and mount the TV. Most of the mounts available today are only gravity clamped so there is no need to screw anything once you have the TV in the mount, unless its mount also offers security features, and this usually just requires tightening the security screws.