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Table of Contents
Introduction
Getting a new gadget, especially a flatscreen TV, can be fun until you’re back home, unpacking to find something isn’t right. From missing a few bolts to you forgetting to get a bracket, or maybe you don’t like the way the TV seems to jut out of the wall instead of snuggling it. Whatever your “poison” is, we assure you that this is entirely avoidable with a few tips and a little more understanding about TVs.
In this article, we will explore everything you need to know before you set out to get that flat-screen TV of your choice. We want to answer every question you would have. Such as:
- Can your TV be wall mounted? – Size, weight and thinness
- What is the VESA interface standard?
- Does your space have a wall to mount your TV?
- Do you have the right mount? – swivel, tilting, or full-motion mount.
Ultimately, by the time you are done reading this article, you will be able to make sure that your TV can be mounted. So without further ado, let’s get started!
What kind of TV can I mount?
The first thing you want to do is make certain that your TV’s size, weight and thickness match what you want for your living room entertainment. When it comes to entertainment, it doesn’t get better than a wide-screen TV, complete with a sound surround-style home system. However, none of this is possible if the centrepiece, the television, can’t be mounted.
One of the questions our installation professionals typically get is Can a TV be too heavy to mount? And the answer is NO. With the presence of the VESA interface, every TV can be mounted as there is a wall bracket and mount for every TV size or weight. As long as the wall is sturdy enough, any TV of any size can be mounted without worrying about damage to your TV, or wall, or injury to a person.
A few other questions concerning your TV are how the TVs are sized, your lifestyle and viewing habits, the size of the furniture around the allocated space, and, unsurprising enough, your financial or prior preference. This will determine f you are getting the super thin flatscreens or can only afford a slightly larger screen. It will also determine what kind of mount is best suited for you.
What is VESA?
Well, VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), and they set the guidelines for standardised products. Their purview also covers TV mounting hole patterns, which are commonly known as the VESA MIS (Mounting Interface Standard) or FDMI (Flat Display Mounting Interface).
They make it easy because most flat panel models of TV (flatscreens) follow these standards. However, some TV manufacturers chose not to follow the VESA standards, so their holes (on the back panel of the TVs)could be arranged differently.
How do I know if I have the space to mount a TV?
It is one thing to know how the right kind of mount to use for your TV, but have you considered the space you will need for the TV? Yes, these minute details also matter when mounting a TV to a wall.
A good rule of thumb is to find a free wall with a direct line of sight from any part of the living area. It can also, to large extent, determine how big your TV can be. Finding such a focal point can mean that certain furniture pieces may need to be moved. You should also consider the strength and age of the wall being considered. You should note, though, irrespective of how sturdy the wall looks; you would want to use an extra set of studs to keep the TV in place.
We should also remember that the best place to mount it is one closest to an electric outlet.
How to choose the right mount
We have an extensive article talking about how to choose the right mount however, it is worth mentioning that the right kind of mount for your TV can mean all the difference. There are countless variations to wall mounts which we explore in another article.
The Low Profile mounts are the easiest to install and the cheapest in the market. They are positioned close to the wall and offer little to no movement. We also have the Tilting TV Brackets that allow for vertical tilting for TVs. They are slightly more expensive than the former and offer more maneuverability for cables on the backend. And finally, the Full Motion mounts. These are the most expensive that the market has to offer, and they give users multi-angled viewing options. It is built with tougher materials to hold the TV at exactly the desired angle. There are also numerous other TV mount options like the Ceiling Mount that, as the name implies, mounts a TV off the ceiling. These offer more legroom and can be used for unique areas that see people looking above the average focal point, like hospitals and gyms.
Conclusion
With the right professional or deeper insight, it is easy to determine what kind of TV you can mount. This is because it goes beyond the TV brand and focuses on the tools required, the space desired and many other smaller factors.
That is why our final advice to you is to find a professional to assist in the mounting of your flatscreen. Asides from the relevant points cited in the article above, there are many unexpected or unconventional scenarios that professional installers can easily and readily navigate without danger to themselves, you or the device.