How to Securely Mount Your TV Between Stands
Fixing your TV to the wall without damaging it can be tricky if you don’t have a stand that can support the weight. If you hang it on a bare wall plate, you risk damaging the wall and the TV. But having a TV that’s not where you really need it can be annoying. However, there are a few simple tricks that will help you set up your system properly for a movie night.
Why add support?
While there are some mounting brackets that claim to be “studless”, if you hang something heavy on the drywall surface without attaching it to the studs, you run the risk of tearing the wallboard off the frame behind it. This may not happen immediately; this can take a while, meaning your TV could fall face down on the floor, taking part of the wall with it while you’re not watching. To avoid this, space the racks apart when you don’t have a good place to mount the equipment, and attach them to the wall frame, this will give you a much stronger result.
What will you need
You can hang the TV on the wall with a stud finder , 1 5 ⁄ 8 inch drywall screws (not lever bolts), a screwdriver , a tape measure , and a countersink . In addition, you will need a board long enough to be able to secure it to the two studs that support the TV mount bracket. Most modern racks are spaced 16 inches apart, but in older homes, racks can be up to 20 inches apart. A 3/4″ piece of plywood , a 1″ by 4″ piece of plywood, or something of similar thickness will do.
Measure, mark and hang the board
Start by finding the closest studs to where you need to place the bracket and determine how far apart they are. To place the bracket between two posts, you will need to put a board between them so that there is something to attach it to. Measure the height you want the bracket to be, and then mark the posts at that height with a pencil. Place the board at the height you marked, aligning each end with the height marks you made to make sure it is level, and use a countersink to pre-drill the screw holes. Then screw the board with drywall screws, making sure they line up with the marks on the posts.
For taller mounting brackets for larger TVs, you may need two rows of bracket boards. Measure the height of the bracket and then mark the height on the wall to determine where the boards need to be in order to successfully attach the bracket. If the location is difficult to see, you can circle the bracket with a pencil before placing the planks to see where they need to go. You can watch this video to see how a professional installs underlayment or blocking on finished drywall. Our short cut involves installing the board in front of drywall, so it’s a little different from the video.
Attach Mounting Bracket
Once you have prepared a solid surface for mounting it, follow the instructions on the mounting bracket or the instructions that came with your TV to complete the installation. Before hanging the TV, you should attach the mounting bracket to the boards to make sure everything looks level. It is much easier to make adjustments without the weight of the fixture on the bracket. If the planks are visible, they can be painted to match the color of the wall to make them less visible. When you’re ready to remove the TV, you can detach the bracket and then unscrew the board. You will be left with just a few tiny holes that can be patched up easily.