How to wall-mount a TV

DIY - $15 (Have it done $415)

Skill - 3/5

Time - 1 day

 

Check the wall
Before buying a new TV check the walls to see if they’re strong enough and can be cut to conceal cables.

 

If they are solid brick or concrete, or the house is old and was built with asbestos-laden fibro then consider a surface-mounted conduit instead of running cables through the wall.

Brick cavity and stud frame walls have spaces within to house cabling.

 

BRICK CAVITY usually for external walls, features two layers of brick with a space between. A heavy-duty core drill is required to cut though the first layer to access the space.

 

STUD FRAMED WALLS have cavities behind plasterboard, timber or fibre cement cladding that can be cut through with standard tools.

 

Determine the position of the TV, taking into account seating, window reflection and distance to the nearest power and antenna outlet. Use low-tack painter’s tape, make a silhouette of the TV on the wall, marking the hole for the cables.

Fit the mounting brackets to the back of the TV, measure from the top to the brackets and use this distance to position the wall bracket inside the tape. Use a spirit level to check for level then secure into studs or wall plugs using the supplied screws.

 

Cut the hole behind the TV and another low to the floor. Feed plastic spaghetti through the top and out the bottom, attach it to the cables with tape to haul them back out the top. TIP To make holes in brick use a 50mm core drill with the hammer function off.

 

Cut the cables from the spaghetti, attaching them to the TV to tune and test the setup while it’s still on the ground. Remove the stand from the TV then lift it onto the wall bracket.

TIP Use the supplied locking devices to prevent the TV being dislodged.