Wall mounting is growing popular every day since it helps save space by removing the need for bulky consoles, tables and stands. If done right, you can have a neat and organized interior with no messy, tangled wires in sight. However, with DIY projects, missing the tiniest details can get you a wall filled with holes and a TV in pieces on the floor. Not feeling up to the task? You always have the option to choose a drywall tv mount service to save money on undue expenses and time.
Is it Safe to Mount a TV on a Dry Wall?
You are in luck! As interior designing grows popular, most TV mounts are being created for drywall. Although that makes it easy for you to execute your DIY project, you will need wall studs. Wall studs are made of vertical wood pieces that create a frame for a wall. You will need to fix the studs firmly in place to act as a solid anchor point for the TV, ensuring it stays in place.
Factors to Consider
Want the basic know-how to install your TV safely? Here are some crucial factors to consider before you learn how to mount a TV on drywall.
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The Weight of your TV
With numerous types of mounts available in the market, you must ensure you choose a compatible one that fits your TV and can carry its weight. Check how much your TV weighs in the instruction booklet or the box it came in, and note it down. Although different brands have different models with different weights, the standard 32-inch TV is around 25-30 pounds. If you can not seem to find one on the market, you can always search online for a mount that specifically caters to the weight of your TV.
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A Suitable Wall
It is vital to regularly check if your drywall is ageing. If so, it’s likely to bow and bend with the added weight of your television and mounting bracket. This could cause a potentially dangerous situation and cause a crash. If your wall is suitable, find the best spot for your TV where the center of the image lines up with your eye level, which is usually around 36–45 inches from the floor.
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Check for Studs
You will need a stud finder to locate where the studs are hidden behind your wall. Turn on the stud finder while keeping it flat against the drywall and move it around slowly until it gives you a sound alert or lights up. You will be able to mount your TV directly on the studs after you discover where they are. If you can’t find any, you can always use toggle bolts to fix a mount on the wall. If a stud finder is not available to you, knock on your wall to find out if it is solid or hollow. A hollow sound will mean you do not have studs behind it, and you will have to purchase drywall mounts.
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Types of Wall Mounts
Various kinds of mounting brackets are suited to different-sized TVs. However, the standard category of mount brackets for every TV are: fixed, tilting, and full-motion brackets. However, if you can not decide, purchasing a universal mount is your best option since they are compatible with most TV designs. Fixed or set mounts to allow you to turn the direction of the screen up or down, while a tilting mount allows you to tilt it towards you. However, a full-motion mount takes the win with its ability to turn and direct the TV screen to wherever you want to position it.
DIY Step-by-Step TV Mounting
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Finding the Perfect Spot
As mentioned above, the best spot for your TV is where it lines up with your eye level around 36–45 inches from the floor, saving you from back and neck pains. However, there are other important things to keep in mind. For example, A central seating area, where more people can sit and watch TV together at the perfect viewing angle. In addition, you have to ensure your TV is connected to a power outlet while keeping its wires organized and hidden.
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The Mounting Kit
Most televisions are on the heavy side, so if you want to protect yours from having a bad fall, you will need to use a proper TV mounting kit to mount up your TV securely. The standard mounting kit will include the wall plate, (to be fastened to the wall) and the mounting brackets. These brackets enable you to hook the back of the TV to the wall. In addition to this equipment, you will need the main tools like a screwdriver, screws, drill, Level, socket wrench, stud finder, and tape measure to execute the task efficiently and smoothly.
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Marking the Holes
After assembling your TV mounting kit, the stud finder will come into play. Use it to find the studs, and make sure to use a pencil to mark their location on the wall. We recommend using more than one stud to mount your TV to make it completely secure and stable. Next, you have to pinpoint the middle of the stud, where you will attach the screws. An easier way to do this is by locating the left and right edges of the stud to better discover the middle. Mark everything to leave no room for error.
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Installing the Bracket
After hooking the brackets to the back of your TV, make sure the mount is flat to the wall, and your TV will hang just right. Use a level and drill to put two holes on the top and bottom of each stud. After you drill the holes, you can place the mount on the drywall using the screws from your mounting kit. While screwing it in, check if there is any resistance. If you do not feel anything, it is possible you missed the stud.
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The Final Installation
Once the bracket is installed firmly to the studs, it is finally time to mount your TV on your drywall. After ensuring the hooks on the TV portion of the bracket are properly screwed to the wall-facing side of the bracket, lift and place your television on it carefully. Do not leave any loose screws, and check the TV from your viewing point to see if it is straight. If not, you can always loosen the screws, make them level, and then tighten them again. After your installation is complete, and you want to organize and conceal all the cords connected to the TV, you can use a simple wall cable concealer kit. Not only does it stick to the wall, but it also has a compartment for the wires with a cover over it to hide them from sight.