Did you receive a new flat screen TV this holiday season? More and more people are investing in them. Wall-mounting your television can help preserve your precious floor real estate and improve your viewing angles and in some cases avoiding an entertainment unit can be aesthetically pleasing.
Space is the number one reason to hang a flat-panel TV on the wall. Safety is another cause for concern, especially when it comes to the ever-increasing size of flat-screens. They can weigh as much as 50 pounds and have a high centre of gravity, which makes them susceptible to falls if knocked over by pets or pulled on from the top by young children.
The Perfect Spot
There are a few factors to consider when picking the perfect spot for your wall-mounted TV. In order to avoid uncomfortable neck pain the TV should be mounted so that it’s centre is at eye level when you’re seated. Glare from the house lights and sunlight streaming through the window should also be avoided.
One trick is to use a piece of paper taped to the wall to evaluate the placement of the TV. Your viewing distance should be roughly two to three times the diagonal width of your screen.
The final placement of the mounting bracket will depend on the location of the wall studs that you’ll need to drill into. Mounting brackets can usually be securely fastened to wood, metal, or mortar, depending on the wall’s structural integrity.
Choosing the Right Mount
There are three different types of wall mounts:
Fixed: Fixed mounts allow you to mount as close to the wall as possible and keep your television in a stationary position.
Tilting: Tilting mounts enable slight vertical adjustment and are often chosen when the flat-screen must be mounted high or to reduce glare or reflections.
Full-motion: Full-motion mounts provide the ability to swivel, tilt or point the set at various spots via an extending swing arm, making them a wise choice for corner locations, viewing in adjoining rooms and reducing noise if there’s another condo or apartment behind the wall.
It’s important to verify that the wall mounting kit is compatible with your TV’s weight and spacing of the four mounting holes on the back of the TV.
Professional installation is a good option as it can be tricky to avoid drilling into pipes and wires, and the wall must be reinforced to support the weight of the TV. Companies such as Best Buy, Future Shop and likely your local home audio store (Bay Bloor Radio for example) offer professional installations.
Here are some final tips to consider if you choose to install the wall mounting kit yourself:
Purchase extra-long cables to ensure adequate distance between your TV and connected components.
Follow mounting kit instructions closely.
Measure carefully to ensure straightness and proper height.
Use a stud finder and cable-wire locator to know where to drill safely; anchor into the centre of each stud.
When concealing cords behind the wall, use cables rate CL2/CL3 for in-wall use and an in-wall power extension kit (hiding power cords behind the wall violates fire codes). Or you can conceal cords within paintable track moulding.