Flat Screen Television Installation For The People! (Part 1)

Whilst having lunch with my colleagues this afternoon, I was amused by this quick story. There was a home theater installation job to be done in the home of a local newscaster. They were going for the all-out no holds barred basement movie theater experience. Which, for the most part, would have been impressive if it had not been for the crooked, off-center flat screen TV mounted above the fireplace in the living room. The client displayed said TV proudly, announcing "Look at this, I hung it myself!" Really. Okay... you, ah, sure you don't want us to fix that while we're here?

So as a public service I present the following guide for the do-it-yourself kind of person who wishes to install that trophy of home theater trophies, the Wall Mounted Flat Screen TV. It is not difficult. Dare I say, at the risk of job security, that it can be done with a minimum investment of time and money by the typical handyperson, (let's be Politically Correct here, thank you very much,) on a leisurely Saturday morning.

First, of course, you will need a TV of your choice, be it Plasma, LCD or, LED. You will also need the appropriate and compatible wall mount. A proverbial plethora of wall mounting brackets can be found here. Many are universal and will fit any LCD or Plasma within a certain size range according to the manufacturer's specifications. A drill will come in handy, so will a level, a tape measure, possibly even a stud finder, along with a basic assortment of small drill bits, 1/4 to 1/2 inch, and some hardware which can be found at the store of your choice. (Home Depot, Lowe's, Billy Bob's Nuts, Bolts and Feed Store, and maybe even Wal-Mart. Trademarks and free advertising notwithstanding.)

Now let's get down to business. You've got your TV picked out, and you know where you want to put it. (You did measure everything to make sure it will fit, right? Don't forget the depth of the TV. It may not be much, but in some installations it does matter. Also keep in mind that in order to physically get the TV onto its mount you'll need at least an inch or two of clearance at the top, depending on the wall mount you decide to use.) You've also got your bracket selected. Splendid! First, take the bracket and all its accessories out of the box. Read the instructions and make sure all the required pieces are present. More importantly, look at the bracket itself and compare it to the TV on which you intend to use it. It should look sensible. If you're trying to hang a 42 inch LCD and the wall mount is 48 inches wide, something is wrong. (Needless to say, if you are trying to hang a 65 inch plasma and the bracket is about a foot wide and attaches with double-sided adhesive... well, you get the idea.) If everything looks good, it's time to have some fun!

First, most wall mounting TV brackets come in two sections. One part of the bracket gets attached to the wall, the other goes on the back of the TV. This makes the part where you actually pick the TV up and set it in place much easier. Identify the bracket that actually gets attached to the wall. There will probably be several slots in it. These allow you to attach the bracket to the strongest part of your wall, usually on a stud, and still have some amount of adjustment so the TV can be centered in its space. Keep it close by for a moment.

Next, attach the other part of the bracket to the back of your TV. Typically, you'll have to remove a few screws and replace them with longer ones supplied by the bracket manufacturer to accomidate the additional depth of the bracket. If your TV is already on a stand, you'll have to remove the screws securing it and lift it off the base of the stand. (Don't worry, your TV won't fall apart. These screws are meant for the wall bracket.) Your wall bracket will have all the necessary documentation.

Next is what will determine the difference between those who are enthusiastic about Doing It Right, and those who are merely Trying To Get It Done. (You want to Do It Right, of course. That's why you're here.) You're going to temporarily attach the two sections of the bracket together while the TV is sitting on the floor with its bracket properly attached. Start measuring! See how far the TV extends beyond the edges of the mount. (Hint: it's not always in the center.) You will use this information to determine the exact placement of the wall mount in its chosen location. Now go to the wall where you want to hang your TV. Lightly mark the wall where the TV should go, typically in the center, or centered above a fireplace. If you have a stud finder, use it to find the studs closest to where you want to hang the TV and lightly mark them with a pencil. (Local building codes here in Atlanta state that wall studs should be 16 inches apart. This will vary, of course, depending on where you live.) Now take your wall mount bracket and use it as a template. (Depending on the size of the TV and bracket, you might want to convince a buddy to help you with this project. If you encounter difficulty, try bribery with a beverage of choice. I've found that this usually works with dudes.) Place your level on top of the bracket and hold it against the wall. Get that bracket exactly where you want it and make sure it's level. Lightly trace the mounting holes onto the wall, or have a friend help you do this. Now you know where the bracket will attach to the wall.