A TV mount is a great way to display your television and keep it out of harm’s way. However, hanging a television requires skill and precision to avoid damaging your drywall. If you’re not sure how to hang a TV or have doubts about your ability to complete the task safely, hiring a professional is the best option. If you do decide to mount your TV yourself, read this article for tips on how to do it right.
First, determine the location where you’d like to put your TV. Some factors to consider include the optimal viewing angle for the room, how sunlight enters the space during the times of day you’re most likely to watch TV and whether there are any nearby windows or light fixtures that could cause glare. It’s also important to consider your furniture arrangement and how the television will fit into the space.
Once you’ve settled on a place to TV mount installation Alexandria, VA, it’s time to find studs where the frame will go. This is a crucial step as most wall mounts require anchoring to framing members. You can use a cheap stud finder to locate stud locations in the wall or simply tap along the surface of the drywall listening for a duller, less hollow sound that indicates the presence of a stud.
To determine how many studs you’ll need for your mount, refer to the instructions that came with your TV mount and measure the distance from the mounting points on the TV bracket to a stud. Most mounts will require at least a span of two studs, one on either side of the location where you’d like to mount your TV. Once you’ve determined how far from a stud you can comfortably mount your TV, mark the spots where the top and bottom of the frame will be on the wall with a pencil.
Next, drill holes where the screws for the mount will go using a power drill or screwdriver. You’ll want to make sure your screws are tight enough that the bracket doesn’t wiggle or rattle when the TV is mounted, but you shouldn’t overtighten them and damage the drywall.
Once the screws are in, attach the wall plate to the studs with the rest of the mount’s hardware. You may need to jimmy the mounting arms on the back of the TV into place in order to connect them to the slots on the plate. It’s usually a good idea to ask for a second pair of hands during this step to help you with any tricky spots.
Once all the pieces are connected, plug in your TV and enjoy it! Be sure to connect any other devices you need to run your TV, like a gaming console or Blu-Ray player. You should now be able to adjust your screen’s height, tilt and swivel as desired. You can also connect a cable box to your TV and set up your streaming services.