Performing a flat screen TV wall mount may sound easy, but it's not. A flat screen TV is a high-end piece of equipment, and hiring professionals is the best way to ensure that it's installed properly. If you're determined to do it yourself, don't forget these important steps:
Find a Stud
Before you decide to hang your new flat screen TV on the wall where your televisions have always resided, investigate the wall closely. Is the wall vibration-free? Vibrations in the wall can cause the integrity of your mounting job to degrade over time and might subject your television to stress that could lead to long-term technical problems.
Does the wall have sufficient studs for mounting? You should never mount a flat-screen television in drywall, as the weight of the television and mount could easily pull out, dumping your precious TV unceremoniously on the floor. Drywall anchors won't work either. You must drill directly into the studs in your wall to ensure that the television mount will hold. If the wall doesn't have studs in the right position, or they are too hard to drill into, you may need to mount your television in a different spot.
The Mounting Bracket
First, look to see that your television is VESA-compliant. VESA is a standard among mounting brackets, meaning that any VESA mounting bracket will work with a VESA compatible TV. If your television isn't VESA compliant, you may need to look for a custom bracket and hardware.
Mounting brackets come in three main varieties: flat mounts, tilt, or tilt and rotate mounts, and cantilever wall mounts. Flat mounts are the least expensive option, and are best for mounting at eye-height because they mount in a fixed position. If you need to mount the television slightly higher, such as over a shelf or fireplace mantle, you might want a tilt or tilt and rotate mount. Tilt mounts give you the option of slating the screen downward toward your viewing area, while a tilt and rotate mount gives you the flexibility of tilting and rotating from side-to-side for an expanded viewing area. Cantilever wall mounts offer the greatest flexibility; they consist of an arm mount that comes away from the wall, goes up or down and side to side. Cantilever wall mounts also require the most space behind your TV, and the television will not sit flush against the wall, even in the fully compressed position.
Mounting the Television
Most brackets come with instructions on mounting the television, and those should be followed to the letter. However, if your bracket doesn't come with instructions, start by lining up the television and determining where you want to mount it. Hold the bracket in place and remove the television, marking the holes in the bracket where you'll need to drill into the stud. Remove the bracket and drill the holes. Install the bracket onto your television. Install the television onto the wall, using the pre-drilled holes.
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