Sanus Wall Mount

Since televisions made the switch from the old CRT to the modern LCD and plasma models, being able to install your own wall mount has become a nice skill. Many companies will charge a lot of money to properly install a wall mount unit for a TV, but doing it yourself can be relatively simple. With a few tools and some careful planning, your DIY wall mount will be up within a few hours.

Instructions

1

Make sure the wall mount you buy can handle the weight of your TV. Information regarding weight ratings can be found on the wall mount box.

2

Choose where your DIY wall mount will go. Your TV will have to be in proximity to your cable hookup, if you have one, as well as a wall outlet. Choose a location free of swinging doors and opposing windows to keep glare down.

3

Find the studs in your wall with a stud finder. Depending on which kind of wall mount you purchased, you will have to find one or two studs. Remember that studs are hung 16 inches apart on center.

4

Mark the studs with a pencil, and use a level to mark a few spots down the wall for the mount bolts. You might want to hammer in a small finish nail to make sure that you have found studs. It also helps to nail to the right or left a few times to find the center of the stud.

5

Hold the mount up to the wall and mark the wall through the bolt holes in the mount. You will want to use a level to make sure the mount is straight. If you don't use a level, your TV can end up being slightly tilted. Mark the holes so the TV will end up being about the height of your head while watching TV.

6

Drill pilot holes with a drill and wood bit. The size of the hole depends on the size of the lag bolts you use for the wall mount. Most mount kits will tell you which size bit to use. If you are unsure, use a bit slightly smaller than the width of the bolt.

7

Bolt the wall mount to the wall with a wrench. You should feel the lag bolts catch tightly while you are screwing them. If they don't catch very well, you may need to re-mark the holes and drill again.

8

Carefully lay the TV face down on a bed or floor. Using the screws provided, attach the TV portion of the wall mount to the back of the screen. There should be four holes for the mount. Tighten them by hand, using a screwdriver.

9

Attach the TV portion of the bracket onto the wall portion of the wall mount using the hardware provided. You will need someone to help hold the TV in place while screwing the mount together. Screw the top two screws in first.

10

Attach the cables, and plug the unit into the wall. Once everything is up, check every bolt and screw to make sure they are secure and tight. You can adjust the tilt angle on the TV to suit your needs.