Does your home have a fireplace with an empty area just above that would be perfect for a TV? Not only are fireplaces cozy, but the idea of cuddling up during a movie with a gorgeous fire crackling in your living room sounds like a dream. Of course, when it comes to the reality of actually mounting your TV above the fireplace, what works for your home may not work for others, as all spaces are unique.
There are many factors to consider before you grab your stud finder and start hammering. Here are answers to some of the most important questions you should know about before mounting your TV above your fireplace.
Preparing to Mount
Before you begin, look at the area you wish to mount the TV and consider placement first and foremost. Placement typically goes in the middle, so grab a ruler, pencil, tape measure and a level to get it perfect. After placement is figured out, it’s time to determine what type of wall you will be drilling into for the TV mount.
With plaster or drywall, studs are easy to find and the material is generally easy to drill into. For concrete, brick or stone, you will need to work just a little harder to get the mount in. You will need to pre-drill the wall and then add wall plugs before you attach the mount.
Make sure your wall is sturdy enough to take the weight of the mount and the TV combined. You could damage the walls and hurt yourself if you skip these steps.
Can Your TV Stand the Heat?
Protecting your TV from the heat of your fireplace is essential, otherwise you could damage or completely destroy your new TV. If your fireplace is the true log and fire type, then make sure not to have a roaring fire while the TV is on. If you have the gas powered type, just make sure to have it turned to a lower heat setting so the heat doesn’t rise to the TV.
Fireplace mantles help to protect anything above, so installing one if you don’t already have one could save you headaches and money in the long run. If you use a mount that can be raised up and away from the fireplace that will help as well.
Mounting on Brick
If you have newer bricks, then it is absolutely fine to pre-drill and mount your TV in them. If you live in an older home or apartment building, you have to be very careful that the bricks aren’t structurally compromised and won’t crumble at the first sign of a drill.
Find a spot that is hidden and do a drill test to make sure the brick isn’t going to turn to dust and leave your TV on the floor. Never drill into the mortar (white glue) on the brick otherwise you could run a huge risk of your TV coming off the wall and breaking. Mortar is not meant to hold anything but bricks together.
Mounting on Drywall
Newer homes typically have drywall above the fireplace which will have tended wood studs behind it or the furring strips. Both work well for mounting a TV. This way is smoother than having to drill into brick or stone and you can use any type of mount you want in drywall as well. Locate your studs to figure out proper placement, mark them and start mounting.
Best Mounts for the Job
Cantilever TV Mount
These mounts are flexible and feature a functional arm attachment. With a Cantilever TV Stand, you can mount in a higher location with the choice to move the television out or down to give you a better eye level.
Tilting TV Mount
These mounts allow you to tilt the TV up or down and are ideal for TVs that are mounted higher up on a flat wall and need to tilt to provide the best viewing angle.
Full Motion TV Mount (Tilt & Swivel Mount)
These mounts give you a full range of motion. With a Tilt & Swivel TV Mount You can tilt your TV up and down, right and left, and it allows the TV to be pulled away from the wall to be angled in any direction in any room.
Give Your Neck a Rest
To help avoid neck strain, getting a cantilever or full motion mount can help you customise the way you watch TV so you won’t need to crane your neck. It can be difficult to adjust your view angle above a fireplace, but that is why having a movable mount instead of just mounting the TV flush to the wall gives you an advantage and will keep you from needing the chiropractor so much.
Upgrade Your Living Space with Designs from MMT
At MMT Furniture Designs, all of our wall brackets and cantilever TV stands are designed to fit into your home seamlessly. Style and function are at the heart of every piece we create, whether in the office, living room or any room in your home. We have a vast selection of TV stands with mounts and sleek wall brackets that will complement any space you place them in.
Browse our unique and hand selected gallery of brackets, TV stands and mounts in our online store and get comfortable while remaining stylish with trendy room fittings from MMT Furniture Designs.