Mounting a Plasma TV on a Brick Wall Fireplace

Mounting a TV to your brick wall fireplace can be tricky. However, follow the steps below and you can have your TV functional in no time. 

Step 1-Decide Where You Want Your TV

The first and most important factor in determining exactly where you will mount your plasma television on your brick wall fireplace depends on the manufacturer’s recommendation.  Your fireplace produces intense heat which could damage your plasma TV screen and components.  Therefore, it’s imperative to make sure you check with the manufacturer to ensure you mount the television high enough above the fireplace to avoid serious damage.

Step 2-Centering Your TV on the Fireplace

After you’ve checked the proper distance above the fireplace, you can then center the TV on the brick wall fireplace.  Plasma and LCD televisions require the installation of a mounting bracket before the television is fastened to the bracket.  In actuality, you’re really centering the mounting bracket, but you should always take into consideration the orientation of the TV on the bracket for the best results.

Step 3-Install the Brackets

Next, mark the bracket on the brick wall and transfer the drill holes from the bracket to the brick wall.  It’s always best to drill in the mortar joints rather than in the brick itself.  Drilling into the brick may cause the brick to crack.  You may have to adjust the bracket slightly to line up the mounting holes with a mortar joint.  When drilling any hole into cement or masonry, you will need a hammer drill with a specially designed masonry bit.  If you don’t own a hammer drill, you can easily rent one at a local home improvement store.

Step 4-Anchoring Your TV

Finally, it’s extremely important that you use the proper anchor when mounting any object to a wall.  When mounting something as heavy as a plasma television to a brick wall fireplace, an expansion anchor is usually the best bet.  Most expansion anchors that are ideally suited for this job are about ¼” thick and should be anywhere from 2 ½” to 3 ½” long.  After you’ve drilled the proper holes, hammer in the anchors and mount the bracket with the hardware provided.  Now you can mount the plasma TV to the wall bracket.

The purchase of a plasma high definition television is an expensive proposition, so it pays to take the extra time to make sure you install it properly.

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