How to Do Your Own TV Installation
Whether you’re watching movies on the sofa, hosting friends for a game night, or simply rearranging furniture, mounting a TV on the wall can give your room a fresh look. It can also be a tricky task, however, and it is important to get the TV at a comfortable height for viewing. Having a professional mount the TV for you is always an option, but with careful measurements and the following tips, you can do it yourself.
Choose the Right Location
If you’re mounting a flatscreen TV, start by finding the mounting points on the back of the screen. These are usually covered by plastic, and may have screws in them already. If this is the case, you’ll need to remove these before continuing.
Once you have located the mounting points, it’s time to determine if your walls are strong enough for a tv installation. This is where a stud finder can really come in handy. These tools are inexpensive, and will allow you to locate the studs in your wall. The bolts used in mounts go through these studs, so having one will ensure that your wall is safe for hanging your TV.
Most wall mounts are composed of two parts — a bracket or set of arms that attaches to the TV, and a horizontal mounting frame that you will mount on the wall. Make sure to read the instructions carefully, as the exact method of attachment varies from one mount to the next.
If you have a very large TV, you’ll probably need to secure the mount to the wall with an additional bolt. In addition, you may want to purchase an articulated mount that will allow you to shift the frame left and right after it’s hung. You can find these online or at your local hardware store.
Having a second pair of hands is also helpful. If you’re mounting a very large TV, it may be difficult to lift and position without assistance. Before you actually fasten the mount, however, check that it is lined up with the plate on the back of your TV. You’ll also need to connect any necessary cables, which will vary again from one mount to the next.
Ideally, you’ll create a mockup before drilling into your wall. This can be as simple as using a tape measure to locate the midpoint of your wall, and eyeballing the mark where you want to center the TV. This is a simple way to find the studs in your wall, and it’ll give you an idea of how the final product will look. If you’re not comfortable with creating a mockup, consider Norm’s method, and have someone hold the frame up while you sit in front of it to see if it’s comfortably high. If it isn’t, you can adjust the position with a little more work.