Tips for mounting a TV wall bracket

Large-screen TVs promise a real home cinema feeling at home! The size of the TV fits, but something still bothers you - it's the positioning of the TV. It would be much more elegant and presentable if the TV were mounted on the wall. This is often achieved with a TV wall bracket. There are a number of important factors that need to be taken into account when installing a wall mount. In the following guide, you will find tips and tricks on what to look out for when mounting a TV.

Will the wall support the bracket?

The larger the TV set, the heavier it is. With a 50-inch TV (whether from LG, Loewe, Metz, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TechniSat, Telefunken), the weight can quickly reach 20 or 25 kilograms. 55-inch plasma screens can even weigh up to 40 kg. To support the weight of the TV and the wall mount, the wall must be suitably stable.

In principle, almost any wall is suitable for a TV wall mount, regardless of whether it is brick, stone, sand-lime brick, concrete, wood or aerated concrete/Ytong. Depending on the wall composition, however, different dowels are required, which must be purchased before installation, as they are usually not included with the wall mount due to the different wall composition. The first thing to do is to find out what kind of wall the monitor holder is to be mounted on. If you do not know this, the so-called knock test is suitable for an initial determination. If it sounds hollow, it is usually a lightweight wall. In this case, you must take special care not to drill too deeply into the wall. If it sounds dull, it is usually a solid wall, made of natural stone or concrete.

If you are unsure, have the load-bearing strength of the wall checked/determined by an expert.

Due to the nature of the walls in older houses, drilling and attaching a wall bracket is usually not possible. For these situations, however, drill-free wall brackets are available on the market. Drilling into the wall is no longer necessary.

Suitable tools & assembly material (dowels & screws)

Different wall plugs and screws are required depending on the wall structure. When choosing the dowels and screws, it is important to take into account the wall composition and the weight of the bracket plus the weight of the TV (high strength of the screws) to ensure a secure hold.

Expansion anchors are usually used for concrete and solid stone walls, while plasterboard anchors, metal cavity anchors or spring-loaded anchors are suitable for wallboards and cavity slabs. Since most TV wall brackets do not come with dowels and screws due to the different wall compositions, these must be obtained from your local DIY store. The advisers in the DIY store will advise you on the choice of suitable dowels.

Other tools are a suitable drill for the wall (masonry drill, twist drill, percussion drill...), a pencil to mark the drill holes, a folding rule to measure the distances and a spirit level if necessary. A percussion drill makes drilling easier with solid bricks or reinforced concrete. If you do not have one, you can borrow one from a DIY store.

Are there any pipes (electricity, water, ...) in the wall?

Before drilling, make sure that there are no water or power lines at the targeted drilling points. A circuit diagram of the electrical installation of the house or flat shows where the individual power lines are located. If there is no such diagram, a special measuring device can find the power lines quickly and reliably. The measuring device (a so-called line finder, current finder, line finder) is guided over the wall. The locating device indicates that there is a power line under the plaster by emitting a warning tone or, if necessary, on a display. In addition to power lines, high-quality devices also detect water, gas or wood (e.g. to find wooden beams in a drywall).

Determining the exact position of the wall mount

The TV is usually placed in the living room opposite the couch, but what is the optimum height and what else may need to be considered?

A frequently asked question is: At what height should you hang the TV? The optimal height of the TV on the wall is crucial for a comfortable viewing experience. If you are considering hanging the TV on the wall, the height should be well planned. Wall brackets for TVs allow flexible adjustment so that you can mount the TV higher or lower depending on the room design.

The height of the TV on the wall can also depend on the screen size. For example, a different height is often recommended for a 55-inch television compared to smaller models. The position and height of the TV should be chosen to ensure a good viewing angle from different seating positions. . As a rule of thumb, the seating distance should be approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal. For instance, for a 55-inch television, this would equate to about 2 to 3.5 metres. The appropriate distance ensures a comfortable viewing experience.

When positioning the TV, consider sunlight as well. Direct sunlight on the screen can compromise the viewing experience and strain the eyes. The ideal position should be shielded from direct sunlight.

In the guide to choosing the right TV mount, you will find the answer. How mobile should the mount be (rotatable, tiltable, swivelling, electric), what is the optimal distance between the TV and the viewer, what is the VESA standard, what should be taken into account in sunlight and tips on cable management. You will find a variety of TV wall mounts for all inch sizes and screen diagonals in the monitorhalterung.de shop. You can buy high-quality products from well-known manufacturers such as Vogel's, Novus, Erard, peerless or Ergotron here. The support will advise you on all questions neutrally and without obligation.

Marking & drilling holes

Once the positioning is fixed, many TV wall brackets come with a drilling template that makes it easier to drill the holes. This is positioned on the wall at the desired location and the holes are marked. Use a spirit level to ensure that you have positioned the template optimally. Many wall brackets now have an integrated spirit level, which also makes it easier to mount and align the bracket. With the help of a second person, the bracket can then be aligned in the desired location and the drill holes marked.

If you are unsure about possible power lines in the wall, remove the fuses before drilling and place a power distributor from another room. If the wall is more stable, it may be a good idea to pre-drill with a smaller drill bit or at least drill into it. Then the larger drill will have a foothold. Choose a safe position for drilling, which gives you adequate support and security, and drill the holes.

Mounting the TV wall bracket

Almost all monitor mounts come with mounting instructions that explain step by step how to mount / fasten / install the wall mount. In most cases, the wall mount is screwed to the wall, the TV is attached to a VESA adapter and the TV together with the VESA adapter is then hooked and screwed into the mount. Follow the steps in the instructions.

When fixing a wall bracket, it is recommended that two people work together. Sometimes it makes sense to connect the cables (HDMI, power, USB, ...) before hooking the TV into the mount. Lay the cables in a cable duct. The home cinema is close!

Buying tips: TV wall mounts in comparison

TV wall mounts from various manufacturers such as Chief, Erard, Ergotron, Vogel's or Wissmann are available on the market and in online shops. Important purchase criteria are whether you want a rigid or movable TV wall mount, which VESA standard and what weight your TV has. Many independent tests have compared TV wall mounts. In the comparisons, the mounting, price, functionality and user-friendliness, among other things, were evaluated. Only the products that meet the requirements can be found and bought in the online shop. Are you not sure which wall mount is suitable for you, do you have questions about mounting a monitor mount or would you like some non-binding advice? Please feel free to contact us!