How to Hang a TV Over a Pocket Wall Fireplace

The lack of a TV tube enables flat-screen TVs to be lightweight enough for wall mounting. To hang a TV over a pocket wall fireplace, use a mounting plate that is compatible with the mounting holes on the back of the TV. Supplies from a hardware store and tools common to most homes will be needed. No electrical skills are required.

Things You'll Need

• Mounting plate
• Electronic stud finder
• Metal screws
• Phillips screwdriver
• HDMI cable, 12 feet
• Wood screws
• Staple gun, U-clamp staples
• Video player

Instructions

1. Place the mounting plate against the wall, over the pocket fireplace. Make a dot on the wall through the holes in the top of each of the two vertical brackets attached to the mounting plate, using a pencil. Place the plate aside.

2. Place an electronic stud finder against one of the dots on the wall. Turn the finder's power switch to the "On" position. Slowly drag the finder to the right. Stop dragging the finder when it beeps. Mark this location on the wall with a larger dot, using the pencil. Repeat this procedure at the other dot on the wall that was made earlier.

3. Place the flat-screen TV on the floor, in front of the pocket fireplace. Rotate the TV so the back is facing you. Line up the holes on the mounting plate with those on the back of TV. Screw metal screws through both holes, using a Phillips screwdriver. Tighten each screw with a screwdriver. Insert one end of an HDMI cable into the HDMI output on the back of the TV.

4. Hold the TV, screen facing you, over the pocket fireplace so the holes in each of the two vertical brackets line up with the larger dots you have made. Screw wood screws through each bracket's hole, using the Phillips screwdriver. Screw a wood screw through each of the other holes on the vertical brackets that are against the wall.

5. Run the power cord and the HDMI cable out the TV's right side and down the adjoining wall to the floor. Staple the power cord to the wall, using U-clamp staples from a staple gun. Plug the power cord into a wall outlet. Run the HDMI cable to a video player, for example, a Blu-ray player. Plug the free end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI output on the back of the video player.

Tips & Warnings

• The size of the TV that can be placed over the fireplace will be dictated by the size of the wall space.

References

• Crutchfield; A Guide To Wall-Mounting Your Flat-Panel TV; Amanda Pollard; April 2, 2008

Resources

• Cruthcfield: Learn About TV Wall Mounts