Wall Mounting Your Flat Screen TV – Part 1
Choosing A TV Wall Mounting Bracket
So you have bought your new LCD or Plasma TV and decided it would look great on the wall – so how do you go about doing that?
Once you have purchased your new LCD or Plasma TV then next step is to buy the correct wall mounting bracket and this is not as simple as it sounds!
There are many different types of brackets on the market; you have the manufacturer’s own mounting bracket that is generally mail order only and well overpriced. Alternatively, there are dozens of universal brackets to choose from that will fit almost any make or model flat screen.
You should consider the following before buying your bracket:
• What is the maximum weight the bracket will take?
• What do you want the bracket to do? I.e. tilt, rotate, extend etc.
• What are the distances between the mounting holes on the back of your screen and will the bracket fit?
• What colour would you like the bracket (usually silver or black)?
• Does the wall bracket come with a warranty?
• How much does the bracket weigh itself? – Some are extremely heavy and may not be suitable for your wall type.
• Are you able to return the bracket if it does not fit?
• Is the wall bracket suitable to go onto the surface you intend to mount it on? I.E. Brick, Concrete, Plasterboard or Wood etc.
Plasma & LCD TV Wall Brackets
Flat Mount
This will always be the least expensive option and will put your TV nice and close to the wall for that hanging picture effect. The bracket should really be no more than around 2 inches in depth.
Tilting Mount
The tilting mount is ideal for use where the TV may be mounted slightly higher than eye level, perhaps above a fireplace. Most tilting mounts allow a maximum of around a 15° tilt which should be enough to angle the TV down towards the sofa for better viewing.
Tilt & Rotate Wall Bracket
Due to the construction and size of the tilt and rotate brackets they are usually only suitable for LCD screens up to around 32”. They are ideal for screens mounted in kitchens or locations where there needs to be a slight adjustment in the TVs angle.
Cantilever Wall Bracket
Without doubt the most versatile of the brackets, the cantilever allows you to bring the TV away from the wall on an extendable arm and angle it up, down left or right.
This bracket is ideal when the TV needs to be in a corner or may need to be angled in a different direction.
When the bracket is folded flat back to the wall there will be a bigger gap behind the TV than you would get with a flat or tilting bracket however so make sure that this is ok. In some cases it may a gap of 3 or 4 inches.
Ceiling Mount
This is the ideal mount to use when there is no wall available to mount your TV on and is often used in commercial applications such as airport terminals and supermarkets. You will need a solid joist or steel girder to mount to using this bracket.
Mounting Your TV
Once you have purchased your wall mount and are happy that it fits you need to decide whether you are able to fit it yourself or if you will need the help of a professional.
You should be able to find a qualified installer by looking in your local Yellow Pages or directory for “AV Installers”. Once you have contacted 3 or 4 installers and compared prices, ask if they would be happy to show you examples of their work. You may find that they have a Website with examples of previous installs that you could see.
Alternatively you could use a recommended builder who should also be able to do the job.
