If you just bought a flat screen TV chances are you can’t wait to install it and watch some movies or sports on it. Not to mention showcase it to all your friends! To save time and money you might decide to install it yourself. Mounting a flat screen TV isn’t that complicated, but there are a few things you need to know. Beside the question of what type of mount you want to use, there are 3 other deadly mistakes you want to avoid when installing your flat screen TV.

1) How much weight can a mount support? Watching your brand new (and rather expansive) 50 inch plasma TV fall down because you bought a mount that only supports 33 pounds (for the 15 inch flat screens) is about as un fun as it gets. Avoid this mistake by making sure that your mount of choice can support the weight of your TV.

2) The wall you are mounting it onto… what is it made of? Choosing a wrong mount is not the only way to watch your TV get smashed when it falls. You can also achieve this nerve wrecking result by mounting it on a wall that does not support that weight! If a wall is made of sheetrock it will need to be reinforced or you can build a bracket that will support the weight of your TV. If the wall is made of bricks or concrete you need to make sure you use the right nails for such types of walls.

3) Don’t forget about cable management. A lot less dramatic than the first two, but still very annoying mistake. There are quite a few cables and wires that connect to a flat screen TV, from cable to sound system to power supply. Make sure you know exactly how all this cables will be managed (some TV mounts have a built in space for cable management for example) before you start mounting your TV only to realize that there will be lots of ugly cables all over the place.

Hope I didn’t scare you with this article! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that hard to install a flat screen TV, but there are a few things like the above that, if you don’t think about could cost you dearly. Avoid those and other mistakes when it comes to installing your Flat Screen TV!

The first and most important consideration is to decide where you want to mount your TV. If you’re mounting on drywall, you have to know if your wall has wood studs. A basic stud finder will help you to determine the proper placement. If you have metal studs, installing your flat screen TV mount can be more complicated. It’s also possible to mount your TV on a concrete wall or brick fireplace by using proper concrete anchors. If you get your flat screen TV wall mount from a good third-party supplier, then the proper fastening hardware will be included. Just be aware that the hardware that comes with your TV may be only adequate at best.

It’s also essential to determine the size of your TV. There is a considerable weight difference between a smaller flat panel than say a large 50 inch model. There are different wall brackets made specifically for different sizes of televisions. A flat panel TV wall mount made for a bigger TV’s will most likely connect to multiple studs rather than a single stud.

You will next need to consider the functionality required for your flat screen wall mount. Specifically, you need to determine if you want to be able to adjust your screen to different viewing angles. There are mounts that will provide the flexibility for whatever requirements you have. In brief, you can get flat, tilting, tilt & swivel and full motion mounts. Whether you just want your TV mounted flat against the wall, or if you prefer to have the flexibility to adjust your screen to almost any position and viewing angle, there is a wall mount that will provide that functionality. For more information on the different types of wall mounts available, read the articles on “flat screen tv wall mounts“  and “flat screen wall mounts” on this website.

Fianlly, you will want to figure out how you want to manage your cables. First determine how you plan to connect your TV to your other home entertainment components. For a clean, uncluttered look, you can install a wall plate to allow you to run your cables behind your wall. This is probably the most popular option. Just make sure to consult an electrician if necessary, and be sure to not run any power cables through the walls. Ususally, you will want to have a receptacle mounted behind your TV for electricity. Again, a good quality flat screen TV mount will come with built in cable management options.

So even though buying a flat screen wall mount isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, it is important to consider all of the factors involved. Then you can get on with the more enjoyable things such as watching sports and movies. Properly mounting your flat screen is a great way to showcase your prized possession.