The TV is a major investment and you probably want it to look great on your wall. A TV wall mount installation that is not properly done can result in a TV falling off the wall and possibly injuring someone or breaking hundreds of dollars worth of electronics. It is possible for do-it-yourselfers to hang a television, but the larger the screen size and higher the mounting height, the more difficult it becomes for most homeowners to accomplish. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, or are unsure about how to do it, call a professional installer.

The first step is to decide where to mount the television. Generally, this will be in a central location that will provide a good view of it from most seating positions in the room. This will be dictated by the locations of electrical outlets and studs in the wall. A do-it-yourselfer should never place a TV above an open fireplace or other area where the fireplace surround might block the viewer’s view of the screen.

Next, the homeowner should determine the correct height for the TV. This will require a little experimentation to find out what height is most comfortable and pleasing to the eye. It might be desirable to TV wall mount installation in Alexandria, VA a bit higher in a low ceiling room to avoid an uncomfortable gap between the screen and the furnishings below it, or lower in a taller room to make the ceiling feel more spacious.

After deciding on the placement, the homeowner should mark the wall where the mounting screws will go. This will usually involve a pencil and a level. It might be helpful to have a friend available for this step. The television is often very heavy and the mount screws will be large, so it is important to have the help to keep the mount from moving during this process.

Once the marks are made, the homeowner should remove the TV from the stand and lay it face down on a soft surface. He or she should then carefully attach the half of the mount that fastens to the TV (called a bracket) to the rear of the TV. This will sometimes be an “X” shape or two separate hooks, depending on the model of mount purchased. It is important to use only the hardware provided by the manufacturer, as using different hardware can damage your TV or not hold it securely.

Once the bracket is attached to the back of the TV, it is time to begin drilling into the wall. Most wall mounts will work with standard drywall, but if the home is built with brick or cinder block or has plaster walls, masonry anchors will be required. The homeowner should also use a stud finder to ensure that the bracket is being screwed into a wood stud, not a drywall nail or joist. After each hole is drilled, the homeowner should check with the level to be sure that the mount is completely level. If it is not, he or she should loosen the screws and reposition the bracket as needed.