Installating TV Wall Mounts

A great way to save space and really enhance the look of your room is to use a TV wall mount to install your flat screen or plasma TV onto your wall. This attractive display is great when you have small children in the home and is an easy way to integrate your TV into the décor of the rest of the room.

With all the easy-to-install TV wall mounts on the market, this is a perfect do-it-yourself project. There are some important things not to be overlooked however. Follow these tips and steps and you will have your wall mount and TV up safely in no time.

How to Choose the Right Wall Mount

There are two main types of wall mount devices on the market today. With either device, you want to make sure that you buy it from a reputable source and that it fits your TV. Be sure to verify that it fits not only the screen size of your TV, but also the load bearing capacity.

1. Standard Flat Wall Mounts: This is the easier of the two to install and takes the least space, adding no more than two inches to your TV set depth.
2. Titled Arm Wall Mounts: This is a little larger than the flat wall mounts, but ensures that you do not have to remove the television if you ever need to add more cables for more gear later.

How to Find the Right Position for Your Wall Mount

Plasma TVs may be thin, but they can be very heavy, weighing over 100 pounds in the case of a 50-inch TV. Protect your investment by spending the time to select the best position on your wall to hang the TV so that it does not come crashing down.

If you are installing your TV wall mount into drywall, your must be sure to screw the wall mount into wooden studs. If your drywall uses metal frames, you must use spring-loaded fixtures, as self-taping screws will not be strong enough to hold your TV.

Key Steps for Installation

By following some simple steps you can ensure that your television will be properly hung in the same way a professional would do the job.

1. Locate your wall studs and mark them with pencil on the wall. Decide on the height that you want the television. Generally TV wall mounts are placed so that the centerline of the television will be at eye level when seated. Once you decide on the positioning, mark in pencil where each screw will be placed.
2. Use a spirit level to double check that the marks are level. Additionally measure from the floor to each screw. This is very important to get right the first time, as it is very difficult to fix later.
3. Drill a hole slightly smaller in diameter than that of the heavy-gauge screws you will be using. Once that is complete, drill in the heavy gauge screws and attach the mount with the screws. Be sure to check before tightening that the mount is perfectly level.
4. Double check the security of your TV wall mount by pulling on it as hard as you can to make sure it is entirely firm.
5. If you are using a fixed type wall mount, be sure to connect all cables before placing your TV on the wall mount.
6. Once you verify that it is secure and cables are in place, put your television set on the mount.