Sanus Wall Mount

You can mount flat-panel LCD and HD televisions just about anywhere using a TV bracket, also called a wall mount. Mounting your TV on the wall can add a streamlined, uncluttered look to your living room or home theater setup---and it's not difficult to do.

Choosing a Wall Mount

Wall mounts come in several different shapes and sizes. To narrow the choices, know the size and weight of your television before shopping for a wall mount. Choose a wall mount that has a maximum weight rating larger than the actual weight of your TV. This will minimize the effects of product breakdown due to weight overload. Next, decide what kind of mount you want to set up. Wall mounts generally come in three different styles; flat, tilting and swing-out.

Flat mounts are designed to keep the TV as close to the wall as possible. These mounts reduce the amount of protrusion caused by the size of the TV as well as the depth of the mount. When using a flat-style wall mount, it's often difficult to plug in cables and add-ons to the back to the television due to space restriction. Flat mounts are recommended if you plan to conceal wires within a wall.

Tilting mounts can tilt your TV up and down to maximize viewing angles. This style of wall mount sits farther from the wall, allowing room for cables. Purchase tilting mounts if you're mounting your TV above the recommended viewing height.

Swing-out wall mounts have extended arms that enable articulation from any viewing angle in the room. When buying a swing-out mount, remember that they're heavier than other types of wall mounts.

Some flat-panel televisions don't have universal wall-mounting holes. The instruction manual provided by the manufacturer will give you the specific mounting hole specifications, to further clarify what type of wall mount you need. Adapter plates are available that will allow you to fit your television on a universal wall mount.

Preparing Your Wall

To safely install a TV mount, first find the studs in your wall. Using a stud finder, locate and mark a stud in the area where you will mount the television. Find another stud adjacent to it and mark that one as well.

Next, retrieve the wall plate. Lining it up between the studs, mark where you will drill holes to anchor the mount to the wall. Use a level to make sure that you're aligning the mount correctly.

Drill holes into the stud using the marks you made as a guide. Hammer wall anchors into the hole to add strength to the mount installation.

Line up the wall plate to the holes. Screw in the washers and lag bolts to secure the plate to the wall.

Preparing Your TV

Remove the pedestal from the television. Lay it face down, either on a carpeted area or a blanket so the front of the TV won't get scratched.

If you're using an adapter plate, line up the plate to the mounting holes on the back of your TV. Using the correct size bolts and washers, secure the plate to the TV.

Most wall brackets use mounting arms to attach the TV to the wall bracket. Line up the arms to the mounting holes on the TV. Be sure that they're facing the right way. Mounting arms have a hook that should face downward. Also line up the arms symmetrically so your TV won't rest on the wall at an angle.

Using the correct size bolts and washers, secure the mounting arms to the television.

Mounting the Television

Two people will need to finalize the mounting installation. Lift the television with one of you on each end---to ensure safety, lift with your legs and not your backs. Move the TV carefully towards the wall plate. Keeping the television at a slight angle, hook the TV to the top of the wall bracket. Gently lower the TV until it rests neatly onto the wall. Connect your equipment to the television and tighten the bolts that secure the TV to the mount.