Sanus Wall Mount

Wall mounting a TV is easy if you take your time and have a well thought out plan. There is more involved than just fastening the TV to the wall. Walls with studs should be the only place your TV is mounted. Studs are upright wood supports located inside a wall to provide extra stability. You're taking a big risk if you mount a TV on regular drywall. The weight of the stand and TV could easily cause the TV to rip away from the wall.

Height

The height at which you mount your TV is a crucial decision. Neck strain and discomfort can occur if you mount your TV too high because you'll always be looking up. Ideal viewing height is when the middle of the viewing screen is at eye level when you are sitting, according to electronic specialist Amanda Pollard of Crutchfield. The higher you mount your TV, the farther back you should sit. Some people prefer to use a rotating wall mount to angle the TV downward, allowing you to view the TV straight on. Viewing the TV straight on gives you a clearer picture.

Safety

Wall mounts and TVs can be hard for one person to lift because of the weight. Have one or two friends help you with the lifting. There is no sense in risking dropping the TV or wall mount. Be aware of electrical wires in your walls. It is extremely dangerous to drill into an electrical wire. Borrow or purchase an electricity cable locator to make sure here aren't any cables running inside the wall where you plan to drill.

Equipment

You should purchase or borrow a few other items besides an electricity cable locator. Stud finders allow you to easily find the studs in the wall where you plan to mount your TV. They are electronic devices that detect where studs are located in the wall. Some people prefer to knock on their walls until they don't hear a hollow sound to let them know where a stud is located, but stud finders are a lot more accurate. Heavy gauge screws will help support the weight of the mount and the TV. Regular carpenter screws won't be able to withstand the weight. Heavy gauge screws are bigger and thicker than regular carpenter screws. Most hardware stores should have these pieces of equipment.