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To find the answers you want, it helps to know the right questions to ask. Here are just a few of the most commonly asked questions when choosing and installing the right mount for your needs. For answers to more specific questions, please feel to ask the experts.
Choosing a Mount Where to Mount Mounting Installation Choosing a MountQ. What types of mounts are available?A. Basically, there are three main types of mount for a flat-panel display; Wall Mounts, Stand Mounts and Ceiling Mounts. Each has its own advantages depending on how and where you plan to use your television or monitor. You can also get mounts that fit under cabinets or on horizontal surfaces. Q. Is one mount option better than the others? A. No, there are many quality mounts in each category. Your options basically depend on the size of your display and where you want to put it. Do you want to have the option of moving the TV? In that case, a Stand Mount might be preferable. Do you need to have the display viewable from a number of different parts of the room? In that case, (if the size of your TV isn't prohibitive,) a swing-out arm mount might be right. Perhaps you want to keep your walls clear or mount your TV in a corner. If so, it would be good to consider a ceiling mount. Q. Does the size of my display make a difference which mount I choose? A. Today's mounts are designed to provide both strength and versatility. However, if you're considering features like a swing-out arm, be sure that the mount can handle the extra strain of a heavier monitor. Also, in some cases, larger displays may be difficult to mount on a ceiling. Q. What features should I look for in a mount? A. This is where it pays to do your research, as there are many different types of features available to increase your viewing pleasure. Some of the many mount features you may want to consider are tilt and swivel options, a switchable horizontal and vertical orientation option, swing-out arm movement, rotation, flip down features (great for under cabinets,) and articulating mounts that permits you to adjust the screen up and down, or side to side. If you're looking at a stand option, often times you can choose whether you want shelves for auxiliary entertainment components. One note of caution - be sure that the features you choose are applicable for the size of your set. Take a swing-out arm for example. To understand the limitations of this feature regarding weight, hold the heaviest book you can find at arm's length from your body. It won't take long for your shoulder to give out. To that end, when considering features like a swing-out arm mount, be sure the mount is certified to support the weight and size of your flat-panel display. Q. Are there any industry standards or seals of approval I should look for? A. Yes. All flat-panel televisions and mounting brackets should be VESA compliant. Short for Video Electronics Standards Association, VESA is a consortium of video adapter and monitor manufacturers whose goal is to standardize video protocols. Q. What does the term Universal Mount mean? A. In a nutshell, it means the mount will generally fit all mounting hardware. But don't rush out to the store just yet, because the definition of Universal differs dependent on size and weight. It's likely that your TV will have a standard VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) hole layout. The VESA standard configuration might be given in inches (e.g., fits 3" x 3" or 4" x 4" VESA hole pattern) or millimeters (e.g., fits VESA 75 or 100 or 200) where the hole pattern is 75 millimeters apart. Most manufacturers will provide a list of compatible monitors to help ensure the mount you choose is a perfect match for your flat-panel display. Where to MountQ. Where is the best place to display my flat-panel TV?A. The simple answer is where you are most comfortable watching it. Again, size can be a deciding factor. You don't want to put a 60" TV on a 70" wall as it will feel too crowded and leave no room for speakers and other accessories. Also, when considering mount and display placement, it's always a good idea to be able to minimize the amount of ambient light that hits your screen. If you're hanging the unit across from a window, get a heavy curtain. Additionally, where you hang the screen is fairly dependent on the placement of the studs and the proximity of the furniture. You don't want to have to move the couch and compromise easy movement in and out of the room just to facilitate the placement of the TV. The good news is that the wide variety of non-intrusive mounting options available today gives you a great deal of flexibility far beyond large, old-fashioned entertainment centers of the past. Q. Is there any place I shouldn't mount my TV? A. Because a fireplace is normally the focus of the entire room, it would seem logical to place the TV above it. Many people, however, are uncertain whether it's safe to mount a TV above a source of such intense heat. Before mounting anything above the fireplace - photos, paintings, your prize Bass, or a flat-panel TV, it's a good rule of thumb to tape a thermometer to the wall above the fireplace then build a fire and let it roar. If the mantel doesn't get hotter than 90 degrees or collect soot you're probably OK. As a final note, make sure to get a tilt mount (or a good masseuse) to reduce neck strain. Additionally, you also want to make sure your mounted TV is out of the way - especially if it's on a mount with an arm extension - so people don't run into it. (Flat-panel displays and rhinoplasties can be very expensive!) Q. I have a brick wall. Can I still mount my TV to it? A. Absolutely. While most mounts will be anchored to studs behind drywall, mounting a flat-panel TV on a brick or concrete wall merely requires using different types of hardware and anchoring devices to provide the proper support necessary to keep the TV and mount securely attached to the wall. Q. What if I want to move my TV once it's mounted? A. This is where it pays to really, REALLY, think about where you want your TV before you start drilling holes. Technically speaking, it is possible to "uninstall" your mount. However, your ceiling or wall will need to be repaired afterwards to hide the holes that were necessary for the original installation. One easy (and inexpensive) way to gauge how your TV will look on a wall is simply to tape a poster (Farah Fawcett, Darth Vadar or the Eiffel Tower all work equally well) and let it sit there for a few days. If it doesn't look out of place at the end of the week, chances are, neither will your TV. Q. How high should I hang my TV? A. Hanging your set at the right height makes all the difference for comfortable viewing. In general, there are two schools of thought: If you will be watching the TV while sitting on the couch, then the center of the TV should be at eye level when sitting up straight on the couch. However, this could make the TV seem low when standing next to it. If you wish to install the set to make it more appealing as a room decoration, raise it to the point where the bottom of the screen is at eye level while sitting and the top is eye level when standing. Again, tilt mounts do wonders for relieving neck strain. Q. What's the best distance to watch TV? A. You're mom was almost right. Sitting too close to the TV or watching in the dark won't make you go blind. It will however, cause uncomfortable eyestrain. To find the most comfortable viewing distance for your display, Additionally, proper lighting is extremely important for healthy TV watching. So while you want to avoid direct light on the screen, watching TV in a well-lit room causes less eye-strain and fatigue than sewing or reading a book. One last note regarding kids who sit too close to the TV, they might need to get their vision checked. Mounting InstallationQ. My carpentry skills and toolbox are equally limited. Can I still mount my flat-panel display or should I call the pros?A. In most cases, a few basic tools and the knowledge of how to use them are sufficient to get the job done if you carefully follow the directions that come with your mount. However, if you feel uncertain after reading the directions, it might be best to call a pro and save yourself the headache (not to mention the extra holes in the wall) of trying to do it yourself. To find out more about what qualifications are required, go to our Q. What tools will I need? A. Some sets and installation circumstances will warrant special tools. In general, however, the following list will cover almost all mounting situations.
Q. After it's mounted, how far will my TV be from the wall? I'm worried about big unsightly gaps. A. The "Mounting distance" is defined as the distance between the wall and the back of the TV when the mount is folded as flat as possible against the wall. Some of the simpler mounts will hold your TV less than an inch from the wall, allowing for almost flush or low profile installation. However, this features comes with a price as low profile mounts tend to allow little or no motion such as tilting or pivoting that can make all the difference in viewing enjoyment from a variety of locations or mount heights. A mount that offers fuller motion will probably set your TV three or four inches from the wall. Q. Where do all the wires go? A. Some wall mounts offer external cord clips that keep the cords in order. Others allow the cords to be threaded through a piece of the mount. Many professional installers will run the cords behind the wall. In any case, for aesthetic and safety reasons, it's always important to keep the wires out of sight and out of the way. |
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