What to Know Before Starting
Today, more people are mounting their TV instead of setting it on a TV stand. What many homeowners don’t realize until they get started is, TV Mounting is often far more complicated than it looks and there’s a lot to consider before mounting it. The team here at MS Installations has put together this guide to help customers identify the key considerations as they decide if TV mounting is right for them. When done right, TV mounting provides a clean, safe and very satisfying display. If at any point you decide that you want help, our professional TV Installation team in Frisco is here to help.
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Where to Place the TV
Pay Attention to the Height
Mounting a TV over the fireplace has been done for many years, but unless the top of the fireplace is lower than average, this may not be a good idea. If the TV Mount is too high, it can lead to neck strain for those enjoying a show. If the TV is too low, it may not be easy to see what’s going on when kids or pets are running around the room. The ideal height is high enough off the ground without being too high, but that can vary based on the size of the TV. A good rule of thumb is to have the base of the TV around 25 inches from the floor.Reduce the Glare on Screen
Glare makes it a lot more difficult to see the TV and can lead to eye strain. Reducing glare is best done by putting the TV in front of the windows, but this isn’t always possible to do. Position the TV where it will be easily viewable and consider ways to block the light from the windows when the TV is on. Consider where the lights are, as well, and make sure the TV is positioned so the lights don’t cause glare on the TV when it’s on. If they do, it may be necessary to have the lights off when the TV is on.
The two most common types of mounting hardware are the standard mount and the swivel mount. With a standard mount, the TV is flat against the wall and stays in that position. If the mount swivels, the TV can be adjusted for better viewing. The amount of swivel can be limited, depending on the specific TV Mount that’s purchased. If glare is a concern and it’s not possible to move where the TV is mounted, being able to swivel the screen may help. On top of whether or not it swivels, it is necessary to make sure the mounting hardware is compatible with the TV. The mount must be able to handle the weight of the TV, which can be an issue with the larger TVs available today. VESA numbers should be available for the TV and should match the available options on the mount. The screws go through the mount and into the TV using the VESA pattern, so if these numbers don’t match, the mount will not work for that TV.
Finding the Studs
After deciding on the location and figuring out the mount to purchase, the next step is to hang the mount so the TV can be placed on it. It is necessary to hang the mount using studs, as the drywall will not be able to hold the weight of the mount and the TV. Standard wood studs can be found with a stud finder, available inexpensively at home improvement stores. There are two potential issues to watch out for when doing this. The first issue is that the studs might not be centered on the wall, so the TV won’t be centered. There are ways around this, but it is necessary to carefully consider the option to ensure the TV doesn’t fall at some point in the future. The other issue is what happens if there aren’t wood studs. Steel studs can be more difficult to drill into and may not hold as well as wood studs, so it may be more difficult to hang a TV with them.
Concealing the Wires
After the TV is hung, there is the issue of wires. Some people may not mind the wires dangling from the TV, but most people will want them concealed. Concealing improves the look and can keep wires away from kids or pets. There are products that will stick to the wall that the wires can run through. The products need to match the wall to help conceal the wires. Otherwise, the wires can be run through the wall. This does require work on the drywall to get the wires from the TV to the outlet without being seen.