How to Anchor a TV

Proper mounting of your television ( tv ) is a very important detail if you care about your investment. Your tv is probably not free and neither is your home, so lets take a few easy precautions to make sure your tv hangs straight and safe:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• A good ear or a beam finder (I'm not suggesting that you go out and buy one and return it if you don't think you'll use it again, but hey...)
• A good piece of wood, a 2 by 4, about 2.5 feet long for a 42" tv.
• Two screws (size depends on tv)

1. Once you find the right wall, find the beams which will support the tv. We need two beams. To be perfectly safe, use a beam finder, but here's a handy trick... If you have a good ear, close your fist and lightly pound the wall with the soft side. You can hear the density and sound change, it will not bounce and resonate much less when you hit the beam.

2. Look at the back of your tv, there are at least two holes for the mounting bracket screws. Find hex head screws or any type of screw you like, that fits into the hole, but has a head that's big enough so the tv doesn't slide off. Cut a piece of 2 by 4 long enough to connect the holes, and at least a couple inches extra on each side.

3. On the wall of your choice, Mark an equal distance from the floor or ceiling to the point where you want to mount the 2 by 4. The 2 by 4 will hold the screws which will go into the holes (meant for the mounting bracket, which you should have bought so you wouldn't risk your home. -Yes, I'm still urging you to do it right or call a professional) on the tv. Mark the same point on two beams.
   Hold up the 2 by 4 to the two points and draw a connecting line on top and bottom with a pencil, just to be sure you'll have it hanging level. The super easy way is to pick a point and hang one of those laser levels on the wall (don't go messing up retailer statistics over this tool either) and draw your line.

4. Hold up the 2 by 4 to the holes on the back of the tv and mark the places with a pencil at the center of the 2 by 4 for both screws. Pre-drill and Attach the 2 large mounting screws to the 2 by 4 at the right distances. Stop to make sure that the 2 by 4 with the mounting screws in it fits the tv - it better!

5. Use 3" wood screws with a phillips head and a screw driver or drill (did I fail to mention those before?) with a phillips bit to attach the 2 by 4 to the wall. It may be a good idea to pre-drill the 2 by 4 with a bit slightly smaller than the screws used to attach it. about 4 screws for each beam, so we got 8 phillips-head screws into the beams and now you have a piece of wood screwed to your wall with 2 large screws sticking out of it. How are you going to explain that one?

6. Hang your tv. This is great! Not only is this construction very safe and reliable, the 2 by 4 gives the tv just the right angle downwards for perfect viewing pleasure.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful with your measurements.
• Measure 3 times, cut once is a great rule.
• I've done this myself more than once and it's great and takes about 20 minutes at a leasurely pace.
• Do not hurt yourself!
• When it's time to hang the tv, please ask at least one more person to help you, even though I have done it myself. That's unnecessary and is very very difficult, and noone will believe you anyway, macho man.
• Call a professional unless you are handy and sure of yourself. But then, you'd still be here reading this to the end.

Resources

• throw away that tv and practice the piano!

[CCrock]

on 1/19/2008 I think I would just leave it to the pros! I wouldn't want my tv to fall and break after spending all that money on it! :)

[Dolpheye]

on 1/19/2008 A great article, except for the cheap shot, very unbecoming...
Quoting you:
"I'm not suggesting that you go out and buy one and return it if you don't think you'll use it again, but hey..."
Sounds like political double-speak
regards.....