How to Properly Mount a Flat Panel Television to a Wall
If you have bought a flat panel television and are interested in learning how to mount it on the wall to create a great look for your home theater, then grab a friend. Mounting a television onto the wall is a two person job and should be handled with care. To hang the television correctly, you will also need to know how to use your drill and a level.
As a start, try hanging a picture where you think that you want your television to go. If you leave it for a few days, you should be able to decide whether it is a good place for your television or not. Once you have decided on an ideal location (hint: if there is glare on your picture, there will be glare on your television, too), then it is time to get to work hanging the television.
For the first step, choose a wall that frames your television well. You will most likely want a wall that is at least twice the width of the television. From there you must choose the height at which to mount the television. Consider that you will usually be watching the television from a seated position, and prepare to mount accordingly. Before you actually begin, however, you should look at the height and see if it looks too low from a standing vantage point. If so, you may want to change the height of your flat screen television so that the bottom of the television is at your eye level when you are in a seated position and the top is at eye level when you stand up.
The next step is to choose the right mounting brackets for your flat panel television. A bracket that is fixed can be hard to use because it means that you will need tiny hands and a little bit of luck to actually match the brackets up to the television. The most preferable brackets swivel in some way, either vertically or horizontally. This allows you to choose your viewing angle, and more importantly, it allows you to manipulate the television into position and attach it more easily.
Make sure that the brackets are in the correct position before you screw them in by checking the height with a piece of cardboard. Use a pencil to mark the height (make sure, also, that you are screwing it into a stud), and use a tack and string to mark the distance to the next hole properly. Don’t forget to use a level to ensure that you flat panel television is hung correctly.
Screw in the brackets, then cut the hole for the wires if you intend to thread the wires through the wall. While running cables though the wall is the visually superior method, you have to keep in mind that you will need to run new cable through the wall every time you hook a new device up to your flat panel. You will also need to cut holes in your wall, which is something that many people try to avoid. You can get around this by adding molding or another kind of camouflage over your cables so that they are no longer easily visible.
Most importantly, you must be careful when hanging the television for your home theater. Many factory warranties do not cover damage that occurs as a result of trying to hang your flat panel television, so it is important to do things right and to be sure that you have help for the lifting and hanging. Your assistant can also help you determine the right height and location for your flat panel television so that it is placed properly. It is also important to get things right the first time. If you put too many holes in your wall, you will regret it. Plan carefully, measure twice, and cut or drill only once.
If all of this sounds like more than you want to take on, consult with a home theater installer. For a small fee, you may be able to have your television custom mounted for you.
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