Installing your flat television on the wall can be a difficult task. There is a lot to consider when insuring your television is mounted safely. Also, there are a lot of options available for the hardware you need to mount your television. Every kind of mount has its own unique advantages. Making the right choice in hardware, selecting the best place to install your mount, and making sure you have adequate help are the 3 keys to successful install.
Hardware is probably one of the most important things to consider. You need a mount that is reliable and compatible with you specific TV. Sure, you could order a custom mount from the manufacturer that made your specific screen. That’s one way to go. Instead, why not save some dough and shop for compatible universal mount for your LCD or plasma, online. Vesa is the universal standard to look for when shopping for a mount. Vesa is a kind of standard for universal brackets.
There are a few Vesa types to chose from. I believe it depends on which region your television was built for. You can get a Vesa 75, Vesa 100, Vesa 200 and others. It is likely that a 75 or 100 will work for 80% of all North American television’s. Your television manual is likely to have the information that will tell you which Vesa to look for. Once you know which vesa standard to go with, it’s only a matter of the style of mount that will work best for your living room. After determining a compatible Vesa standard, the rest is easy. All you have to do now is pick the mount that has the features you want.
Where you place your flat screen television is just as important as the LCD brackets you use. Remember, to choose a location that is structurally sound. It depends on the material your wall is made of. There are too many possibilities to list here. Therefore I will go with the most common. Most walls in the home or office are made with 2 x 4 framing and then covered with sheetrock and painted. For this kind of wall you will want to use a stud finder to locate one of the beams that is close to where you want install your television. You should drill the holes for your mount into that beam or set of beams. It would be a huge mistake to forget this step; you want at least one beam supporting your TV.
Besides the LCD wall bracket & mounting hardware, don’t overlook the importance of a friend or family member for help. It’s not likely you will be able to install your flat screen on your own. Especially, a TV that is bigger than 20 inches. Besides, having some help only takes the edge of, and makes life easier with this kind of project. So, to recap: get a compatible mount that is right for you, chose the location for your television carefully and get help.