Wall mounting a TV screen
The following guide is designed to assist you in mounting a TV screen to a wall. Please ensure that you consult the manufacturer’s instructions for any TV screen or mounting bracket you choose to use before proceeding.
Preparing to mount your TV screen
There are a few steps you should take before starting to mount your new TV in order to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible:
Step 1 – Check your walls
Depending on the structure of your building, you’ll probably have at least two different types of wall – brick, and stud walls. Most wall types can support a TV but you need to be particularly careful with stud walls.
Brick walls
These walls are suitable for mounting a TV of any size but try to ensure that the mounts are fixed into the brick and not the mortar. This is because the brick will provide a much more secure fitting. When mounting a large TV, it is recommended to use heavy-duty wall anchors that are specifically designed to go into brick.
Stud walls
Interior walls are often made from a wooden ‘stud’ frame with plasterboard attached to it. The wooden ‘studs’ are strong enough to hold a TV screen but if you’re planning on mounting your screen directly onto the plasterboard you’ll need to use special plasterboard fixings and make sure the weight doesn’t exceed the maximum weight of the fixing kit. Some stud walls have a metal frame, with these wall types your TV screen will need to be fixed to the plasterboard so make sure it isn’t too heavy for the plasterboard fixings.
Step 2 – Use VESA standards to find the right mounting bracket
For most TV screens there are several bracket options, so you’ll want to find the right one for your TV weight and wall type.
To make it simple, most TV screens use the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) standards. These guidelines match TVs to appropriate wall mounts by measuring the patterns of holes on the back of the screen.To work out the VESA dimension, use a tape measure to measure the distance between the horizontal holes and vertical holes in mm. The two numbers are your VESA dimension which can also often be found in the TV manual.
Step 3 – Get the correct equipment ready
You will need the following equipment in order to mount your new screen:
- Mounting bracket
- Tape measure
- Screwdriver
- Pencil
- Spirit level
- Rawl plugs
- Stud detector
- Drill
Mounting your TV screen to the wall
Once you have everything prepared then you can start mounting your TV. Follow the steps below to ensure that your TV is mounted correctly:
1. Get your TV in the right position
Before you start drilling holes, make sure you know where you want the TV to be positioned on the wall.
It’s a good idea to cut out a template of your TV so you can stick it on the wall and ensure the positioning is correct from different locations. You can then mark the wall exactly where you want the centre of the TV screen to be.
2. Fix the mount to the wall
Once you’ve decided on the position of your screen, place the wall mount bracket on the wall. Use your spirit level to make sure it’s straight then mark with a pencil where you’ll be drilling the holes.
Before you start drilling, check you’re not drilling close to any electrical cables or pipes. A stud detector will tell you if anything metal is behind the wall.
Now drill the holes in your wall and place your rawl plugs inside the holes.
3. Attach the bracket to your TV
Lay your TV down on a table or surface that’s larger than the screen. We recommend using towels to protect the screen. Locate the mounting holes on the rear and firmly attach the mount.
4. Connect the cables and lift your TV into place
Connect all the required cables to the screen (eg the power cable and HDMI cables) before mounting.
Then with the help of someone, carefully lift the TV into place. Secure the two parts of the bracket with a screwdriver or Allen key, depending on the type of bracket you are using.
