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Bought a new TV? Congratulations. As soon as you bring it home, the task of wall mounting awaits you. Although most TV purchases come with a manual that has clear instructions for setting it up, including wall mounting it, the process is easier said than done. Many people try to do it themselves, but unfortunately find it challenging to finish the job successfully. Luckily, we have prepared a list of mistakes commonly made that you should avoid while mounting your TV. You can now learn from others’ mistakes to steer clear from such blunders.
Why Should You Wall-mount Your TV?
You are dealing with two major choices: stand-mounting and wall-mounting. In this section, we will be exploring the importance of wall-mounting your TV.
There are people who like to be in charge and have a do-it-yourself attitude. We’ll warn you that it does require expert hands to mount it to the wall safely. So unless you are totally sure of what you are doing, it’s advised to let technicians tackle the process. Plus, many have same-day TV installation service.
Now, the main advantage of wall mounting your TV is the space-saving factor. There is no additional furniture required that you have to buy to enjoy your TV. Wall-mount is suitable for every space, no matter how big or small the room is. It looks aesthetically beautiful with a less-is-more feeling. The height of the TV is also no longer dependent on any other factors than your convenience and comfort.
Let’s now jump into some of the mistakes you should avoid to mount your TV easily.
The Right Position
Wall mount brackets are devised to hold the weight and size of the TV safely. This means that the brackets have to be strong enough to hold it at all times. You will need to choose between two options: a high-resolution bracket and a regular slanted bracket for your TV.
Ideally, TVs are placed on the center point of a wall, so you need to make sure that your viewing angle is properly aligned before you fix it. Each wall mounting bracket is graded for devices of a certain size and weight and you need to make sure that the one you have is strong enough for your TV set. Therefore, you need to decide which bracket is best to hold the TV securely.
One of the most common mistakes people make with the brackets is getting the wrong size. The easiest way to do this is first choose the location wisely and then select suitable brackets to mount your TV.
You should sit from the viewing point to check whether it is comfortable for you. To give you an idea of the standard measurement—usually the optimal distance from the TV to the soda is an 8:1 ratio. This means that you should be one foot away for every eight inches of your TV. In other words, if you have a 48-inch screen, your viewing point should be six feet away from the TV.
Securing the Brackets
It’s very important to determine the “type” of the wall, the location of the studs, and what exactly is behind the wall. In some cases, when you are not able to use the studs, you have to use other means of securing the bracket on the wall. For example, if you opt for a full-motion bracket, you have to reinforce the wall prior to installing the bracket.
The layers of drywall do not have the ability to hold the brackets and the TV by themselves. You might feel that you have set it up correctly, but don’t be under the impression that your TV is secure. It will come crashing down in minutes. It’s best not to take risks, particularly if you have spent a lot of money on this TV. For any confusion or doubts, it’s best that you seek professional help and get the technicians to come over to give you a hand. Just to let you know, 99 percent of the time when a TV falls off it is due to an incorrect installation. So if you don’t want to go down the path of grief and loss, make sure you get the right tools or get experts to help.
The Right Tools
You have to drill holes into your wall for the cables to go through—which is not easy without the right set of tools. If you don’t already possess some of these tools, it might cost you a lot to buy them just for this job. You should consider if getting it done by pros would be cheaper.
You need prior experience with fishing wires through the wall in order to do this smoothly. Otherwise it could take a long time to figure out the process of doing it. Again, we want to remind you that mounting your TV to the wall is not a simple job. It needs to be done correctly.
For example, when we say the “right” tools, we are talking about things like stud finders. This is a tool or device that can find a stud inside the wall so that you can drill holes safely. This brings us to another important element—that is the right drill size, measuring tapes and a screwdriver. This is not a one-man project if you are new at this. If you leave any room for mistakes, it might end up being more costly to repair the damage.
Height
Ultimately, it is your choice where you want to place your TV. As a point of reference, a 42-inch television should be 56 inches above from the ground. For a 70-inch TV, the standard height should be 67 inches. Keep in mind that these are all optional; you are free to make adjustments according to your viewing preferences.
However, too many customers have drilled holes that are too high for their convenience. They had to go through the trouble of moving the TV again to readjust the height, leaving unsightly holes in the wall. Getting the right height is extremely important; you can seriously injure your neck and back with bad posture. Our advice is to check multiple times to confirm that the height works for your and your family. Uncomfortable heights can lead to a bad TV experience overall, so make sure you get it right the first time.
Cables
To avoid this particular mistake, which is extremely common, you must plan ahead. The safest option is to add in a few extra cables to the bunch. Another common problem is to have cables of insufficient length. As soon as you mount your TV to the wall, the distance between the switchboard or plug point to the actual TV increases. So you should keep these factors in mind before you mount your TV.
The TV cables can be lengthened with extension cables, so if you plan ahead, it should no longer be a problem. All you need to do is make room for the extension lines. Make sure you are putting the cables behind the entertainment set to avoid hazards. Moreover, you don’t want the decor of your minimalist living room to look shabby or messy.
Final Thoughts
Before you go, you must also think about the mount selection for your TV. There are many options to choose from. Keep in mind that each one is designed to suit a certain setup, so do your research before making a decision. Mounting a TV to the wall means that you are no longer able to move it around the house, unless you are okay with going through the process of drilling the holes all over again.
Take a moment to look around your living area or family space to pick the right spot. What we are trying to indicate is that you should weigh out your options of mounting or just placing it inside a TV cabinet.
Many people lean toward mounting their TV on the wall because they prefer a fixed station. For some, it’s the other way around. The bottom line is—whatever you choose, make sure you are taking the right steps to avoid making mistakes that could ruin the experience for you.