Hi there,

I've lurked for a long time on this site, and this is the first time I've actually had to post to get my question answered.

My wife and I just moved into a house built in 1967 and we are trying to mount a 39" TV in a bedroom to an exterior wall. There is thick (3/4 inch) wood paneling, but since it is a "required" that the TV mount be a multi-directional arm mount I'm quite hesitant to mount it straight to the paneling.

My stud finder does have a "deep scan" function, but the results are not consistent enough that I feel confident using that. There is a space between the paneling and the exterior wall (where the studs must be right?) but I'm trying to decide between just buying longer bolts and trying to go right into the brick with a hammer drill or fishing for the studs.

Long story short:

1. Are there any red-flags on mounting a TV directly to bricks that make up my exterior wall? If so should I just try and get it on the studs?

2. If it is better to go with the latter, how do I go about finding the studs when there are no outlets to tip me off and my "deep scan" stud finder isn't reading consistently?

Please let me know if I can clarify anything or if pictures would help.

 

If the house was built in 1967 the exterior wall isn't a real brick wall it is brick veneer. Look for vertical seams where the panels meet.

 

Paneling is 4' wide. Therefore if you find the seam, you have found the center of a stud. Other studs should be 16" on center from there. Outlets will also usually be mounted to one side of a stud or the other... so wall outlets also usually identify where studs are.

No, you should not mount it to the exterior brick.

 

While 16" centers is the norm, some houses were built on 24" centers.
btw - welcome to the forums!

 

Is the wood "paneling" actually in panels or is it horizontal or vertical planks? I have my doubts to it being in panels.

 

3/4 inch paneling is not typical. I have the same doubts as Larry. Send us a picture.

 

My take is it's 1x6 [?] T&G installed to look similar to paneling.

 

Using an inexpensive endoscope, the OP might be able to remove floor or ceiling molding, drill a small hole and locate a stud.

 

I've attached some cell phone pics. Perhaps there is another word other than wood paneling for this type of wall.

I also attached a pic of a hole that the previous owner used to get some power outside, this is where my 3/4 inch figure came from. There are also pictures of the wall, but I'm not sure why I can't get them to orient vertically.

 

Use a magnet to find the nails used to nail the paneling to the studs.

The bead on the left in the bottom photo looks like a seam.

 

That looks like 5/8" bead board which I believe comes in 4'x8' sheets. So there would be a seam between sheets. You'd have to study the joints carefully to see them.

Take a piece of coat hanger or other type of wire and see how much room there is behind the bead board by putting it into the hole where the wire is. You should find a 3-1/2" space behind that board.

 

You are correct there is about 3 inches of space between the boards and the exterior bricks.

If I can locate the seams would it be fair to assume there are studs at each seam? The boards are nailed at the top and bottom each.

 

Those are individual tongue and groove boards, so no... a seam may not necessarily indicate a stud. I agree a magnet nay be your only hope. It won't be the end of the world if your tv mount is screwed only to the t & g paneling. Its pretty stout stuff.

 

If to the paneling only I'd use at least two toggle bolts. Gravity T toggle bolts require the smallest hole.

 

How do you install tongue and groove planks to wall studs...... furring strips ?

 

Like he said, they are nailed top and bottom to the plates... the ones over studs are likely nailed to the stud. They don't require a lot of nails. Looks like a 5.5"/7.5"/9.5" layout pattern... pretty common for the time period. I've worked on these type of walls before.

 

Some vertical installations will require perlins all around the room at the 4' mark if not more often to attach each plank. Just stirrin' up stuff.

 

So I did some investigative drilling and I cannot find any studs at all... Magnet doesn't help, not 18 or 24 inches from wall or window, etc.

Also, after closer examination, there is a pattern of nails horizontally across the boards not just at the top and bottom, but also on each board a couple of feet above the floor and below the cieling.

I feel ready to try Ray's advice and just attaching the mount to the paneling with the toggle bolts.. I couldn't find those toggle bolts at Lowe's, is that something I need to order online?

Is the consensus that the toggle bolts will be secure even with the cantilevered force of an extended arm mount?

 

Lowes have ones that will work. https://www.lowes.com/pl/Toggle-bolt...are/4294690611

 

You do realize you could put a lag screw / washer in ever single hole in your mount if you really wanted to... (overkill) it wont be going anywhere.

 

And if you can hit the horizontal nailers under the paneling that would be a plus.