How hard is it to DIY mount a TV onto a wall?
Thinking to mount a TV to the wall, but you don’t know how to do it? Don’t let it worry you too much. You can mount a TV to the wall easily enough, and not only does it look good, but it also frees up space in the home to put other things. You do, however, have a few factors you need to consider, such as:
- Choosing the right location
- Using the right tools
- Finding the stud in the wall for the mount
- Sourcing an appropriate mount
Mounting a TV isn’t difficult, but you should understand these things going into it.
Who can mount a TV to a wall?
Mounting a TV to a wall is not a project that you need special skills or licensing to do. However, it can be a timely and costly problem to fix if it is completed incorrectly, so consider if you have the right skills to complete it yourself.
Does the TV size impact the mounting process?
The TV screen size does matter because you don’t want to come home one day after work to find the TV in a crushed heap on the floor.
Check the weight that the mount can handle along with its rating for the size of the TV. To be on the safe side, you may want a mount that can support more than the screen size. You can mount a large-screen TV, but you should beware of the mount size and the weight support that it offers.
Wall mounting a TV can dramatically improve the views. You may be wondering how high to mount a TV. For a 42-inch screen TV, you want it about 140cm from the floor. For a 55-inch TV, you want it about 155cm off the floor.
Materials and tools
- Pencil
- Level
- Screwdriver
- Tape measure
- Drill and assorted bits
- Stud finder
- A wall mount kit
Contact local handymen
How to wall mount a TV
- Find and mark the wall stud: Using a stud finder, you will quickly and accurately locate the studs. This doesn’t work as well on plaster or lath walls, but it works well with drywall. Beware, however, that pipes and conduits may run through the wall. You have to use the stud finder to check to see that it runs vertically, which indicates a stud. You will also want to locate multiple studs to measure between them as an added precaution.
- Line up the bracket: At this point, you will use the level to ensure that your marked spots are level. You will need to make sure that you have lined up the brackets correctly. Having a friend on hand may help to keep them steady for the next part. Instead of marking the points with a pencil, you could optionally use painter’s tape because it makes it easier to see.
- Drill holes: You will have four holes marked on the wall and ready to drill. Keep in mind; these holes should only be large enough for you to mount the screws in the wall. As you hold the mount up to the wall, you will use the level to make sure that you have it level.
- Attach the mounting bracket to the wall: Before you begin, remove the stand from the TV. The mounting plate attachment holes can be found on the back of the TV. In some cases, they may have screws or plastic, which need to be removed.
- Attach hanging brackets to the TV: You will want to attach the hanging brackets to the TV because you will have greater access to the control panel.
- Mount the TV: Finally, mount the TV to the wall. Check to see that the mount remains stable and doesn’t wobble. Again, it’s best to have multiple people because of the cumbersome load that you have to handle. Now you may be wondering how to mount a tv without cables showing. Most people install it as close to the outlet as possible to hide the wires.
How to hire a handyman
Mounting a TV is not something that you want to get wrong, so hiring a handyman to do it for you might make more sense. Licensing happens by the local state and territory officials, which can vary slightly for each place. Be sure that the electrician can produce the license if you request it. They should also have a few years of experience to ensure that they know what they’re doing. Licensing matters, but having insurance matters too because if they make a mistake, such as drilling into a wire, you want coverage from liability.