How To Do an LCD TV Installation Yourself

LCD TV instillation is not difficult if you have the right tools and DIY skills. A flat screen TV is a popular choice for modern homes. They are slim and sexy with a thin footprint that does not use up much space. Being able to mount your TV on a wall or from the ceiling or set it on a standard table stand allows many space saving options. 

While a professional installer is preferred, most people can do the job themselves if they are on a budget. Here is how to mount a flat screen TV on a wall yourself. This instillation does not run the cables behind the wall. 

Before you begin, hire a licensed electrician to install a recessed AC receptacle in the wall to hide the power cable. The power cable must not run behind the wall, even if the AV cables do. 

Step 1: Mark the Attachment Points

Decide where you are going to mount the screen and hold up the mount into place. If the wall is wood or drywall, find the wall studs to attach the mount to. Use the spirit level to make sure the mount is level and mark where the bottom of the wall mount will be as well as where you will be drilling the holes for the screws or masonry fixtures. Cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the screen and put it up to the wall where it will be attached. Mark around it with masking tape, and then take the cardboard away. 

Step 2: Attach the TV Part Mount

Attach the TV portion of the mount to the back of the TV. If the mounting holes are not exposed, pry them off with a screwdriver. Don’t lay the TV down on its glass screen, keep it propped up. 

Step 3: Drill the Mounting Holes

Make sure the area where you are drilling has no cables that you could drill into. Use the level to verify that the bracket is level before securing it to the wall. Drill the bracket into the wooden studs. If you have a masonry wall, drill the holes for the wall anchors, then use the screws to mount the bracket. Make sure the bracket is perfectly level and tighten the screws. 

Step 4: Mount the Screen

With a helper, attach the TV to the wall mount. Check again that the screen is perfectly level, then wire the AV cables to the TV. Attach the cable-camouflaging trunk vertically to the wall and hide the cables within it. 

Do not mount your TV to the wall if you have metal studs, as they are too weak to hold a heavy screen. A table stand is a better option in this case.