10 Mistakes to Avoid When Mounting your TV to a Wall

So you want to mount your TV on the wall – great idea! Read our guide on TV wall mount installation.

TV mounting equipment is stronger than ever before and televisions are also thinner and lighter than they used to be, but there’s always a risk your brand new TV could fall.

What do you need to know before mounting a TV to a wall?

Here are the common mistakes people make when they try to mount their wall themselves. In short: if you’re in doubt, call a professional!

1) Not checking the wall types

Most houses in the Northern Beaches and the North Shore have one of two different types of walls – either brick or stud walls (made from plasterboard).

Both brick walls and stud walls can support the weight of your TV, but you’ll need to check the best wall for the size and weight of your TV.

2) Choosing the wrong wall

For TV wall mount installation, both brick walls and stud walls are good options.

We recommend you carefully choose the best wall – not just the optimum location.

Bear in mind that for a brick wall the mount should go directly into the brick and not the mortar, because brick is more secure.

If you have a heavy TV you’ll need a heavy-duty wall anchor specially designed to go into brick and support heavier items. We carry these in our vans so not to worry.

What about stud walls?

Because they’re built from wooden beams with plasterboard nailed to them, we advise you to try to locate the wooden studs.

They’ll be strong enough to hold the TV, whereas plasterboard alone likely won’t be. Take care to secure the mount into the wooden beam and not the plasterboard – if you only fix it into the plasterboard, it’s probably not going to be strong enough.

It’ll be an expensive mistake if the TV falls off the wall!

3) Not checking the bracket matches the weight and size of the TV

Most TVs are compatible with several bracket options so find the right one for your TV.

You can check the TV manual or find the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) standards online. VESA details the best wall mounts by pairing the patterns of the holes on the bracket with the back of the TV.

If you overload the TV bracket with a TV that’s too heavy, this will stress the bracket and the fixing and likely result in the TV collapsing later.

4) Not having the right tools

You need a power drill. It’ll be impossible to do the installation with a screwdriver and you’ll probably end up damaging the wall. You’ll need a Phillips head drill bit for the trickier attachments, and a spirit level to make sure your TV goes up perfectly horizontal.

No one will be able to ignore a wonky TV!

5) Trying to do it alone

You’ll need someone to help you.

TVs are heavy and awkward to lift, not to mention you’ll likely need another pair of hands for the other side of the wall mount.

You wouldn’t be the first person to try and do it alone and end up accidentally dropping (and damaging!) a heavy TV, so we recommend booking a residential electrician in the North Shore for complete confidence and peace of mind that your television will be installed correctly and safely.

6) What should you not mount a TV with?

When you mount a TV to a wall don’t use any odd bits in your tool kit; one of the most common reasons wall-mounted TVs fall comes down to using the wrong fixings.

For example for a solid wall – you need coach bolts with expansion plugs (especially for a large TV). Plasterboard walls (stud walls) are not as strong or as solid – you’ll need to bolt the fixings. You can use plasterboard fixings like wall anchors and gripit fixings.

7) Don’t forget to use washers

Always try to use washers on your bolts to help spread the weight.

These really help to create a stronger fixing. The TV bracket should come with washers but if it doesn’t, we advise adding them.

8) Poor fixing into the wall

Poor fixing is usually because the hole in the wall is slightly larger than the fixing placed inside it. It could be caused by the drill bit. To avoid this insert extra plugs into the hole which can prevent expansion, or, alternatively, if it’s not secure, open up the hole and use a larger fixing.

9) Not testing the bracket before installing the TV

We do the trusty “pull test” before securing the TV into position. Pull the TV bracket with a reasonable amount of force to make sure there is no movement (like when you lock a door and try to open it to make sure the lock is working).

If there’s a wiggle, there’s a problem. If there isn’t, then you’re good to go.

10) Not sorting out the cables safely

Floating TVs look great because the cables are hidden, so where do the wires go?

There are two options to hide cables – either behind the wall or by minimising the cable exposure with a plastic cover and cable ties.

To hide the cables behind the wall, they need to be properly insulated and safely connected.

The safest option, sold separately from the wall mount, is a TV cord hiding kit which includes a corrugated plastic tube essential for making sure the cables don’t touch any other building materials.

If you can’t hide the cable behind the wall, there are a number of accessories available like a plastic cover, cord clips and zip ties.

Do you need a licensed electrician to put a TV on the wall?

At the end of the day, the best thing you can do is engage a qualified professional who will ensure your television is mounted safely and securely, all cords are functioning properly, and overall, looks fantastic!

If you’re looking for an electrician in the Northern Beaches, Plateau Electrical offers a range of domestic electrical solutions, repairs and installations to make your home more functional and safer.

Call us today for:

• Help mounting your TV
• Upgrades or electrical repairs in the North Shore
• Assistance choosing the correct TV mount set up
• Any other electrical issues or electrical works in the home
• If you need a local electrician near you in the Northern Beaches or North Shore, call Plateau Electricians now! Call (02) 9982 8688 or reach out online and we will get back to you shortly.

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