Wall Mounted Plasma TV

[nanci2539]

We purchased a 42" plasma TV for our master bedroom that we want to mount. It's a Lantana model (CBS) and the interior walls have steel studs installed 20" on center.

The mount holds up to 200lbs, TV is about 75 pounds.

The installer is telling us it can't be mounted without re-inforcing the wall.

This means taking the wall down, etc.

Has anyone mounted a TV on a wall without this reinforcement?

[TallerTrees]

We purchased a 42" plasma TV for our master bedroom that we want to mount. It's a Lantana model (CBS) and the interior walls have steel studs installed 20" on center.

The mount holds up to 200lbs, TV is about 75 pounds.

The installer is telling us it can't be mounted without re-inforcing the wall.

This means taking the wall down, etc.

Has anyone mounted a TV on a wall without this reinforcement?
The installer is correct. If the plasma screen will cover the hole, then don't worry about it. If you have to take it down for some reason, you don't want the wall patched and then have to tear out again. Unfortunately, steel studs present this problem.

I would go ahead and have it done.

[downeaster]

I thought the studs were on 24" centers.

Why would you need to "tear the wall out"?

I would attach it to the studs. If you can't attach the mount directly to the studs I would attach something (plywood ?) to the studs using self drilling screws and attach the mount to that. Four screws should do it and if you ever have to move it you only have four holes to patch.
You would want to span two studs but a 42" set should more than cover the area.
Attaching to metal studs is not as easy as attaching to a 2x4. The metal studs only give you about an inch of surface as compared to about 1 5/8" of 2 x4. You may find pre-drilling for the screws helpful.

DC

[TallerTrees]

I thought the studs were on 24" centers.

Why would you need to "tear the wall out"?

I would attach it to the studs. If you can't attach the mount directly to the studs I would attach something (plywood ?) to the studs using self drilling screws and attach the mount to that. Four screws should do it and if you ever have to move it you only have four holes to patch.
You would want to span two studs but a 42" set should more than cover the area.
Attaching to metal studs is not as easy as attaching to a 2x4. The metal studs only give you about an inch of surface as compared to about 1 5/8" of 2 x4. You may find pre-drilling for the screws helpful.

DC
That is true. However, the installer may not want to be responsible for that type of workaround. I would never attach it to plywood. And I doubt the installer would either.

Yes, you could make something of that order work (not plywood though) but the responsibility would be homeowner's. If I were the installer I still wouldn't do it. Liability.

[Helene2008]

Nanci,

Downeaster is right, I just called my nephew who owns a home theatre business in the Clearwater area and he said the same thing.

[nanci2539]

Well, seeing that hubby won't downsize the TV, looks like I'm buying another piece of furniture to place the TV on. A nice handpainted Bombay chest may just do the trick!

It's just too complicated and I suspect expensive to mount the TV so on to Plan B, buy a nice piece of furniture to compliment our new bedroom.

Thanks for your input

[F16 1UB]

Well, seeing that hubby won't downsize the TV, looks like I'm buying another piece of furniture to place the TV on. A nice handpainted Bombay chest may just do the trick!

It's just too complicated and I suspect expensive to mount the TV so on to Plan B, buy a nice piece of furniture to compliment our new bedroom.

Thanks for your input


Good idea Nanci. We've got a 42" also that will sit on top of something instead of wall mounted. Sounds much easier too.

F16

[MSNPA]

These posts are so timely. Just today my husband said we should get a new TV for the bedroom and mount in on the wall. Too much trouble I think! I would rather place it on furniture.

[784caroline]

I find it hard to believe that you cannot mount a 75 pound tv on the wall by drilling directly into the metal studs. I just had a 75-100 lb mirror professonaly installed by the guys that do alot of mirror work here in TV and I had two options for mounting. I could have had it clipped where the clips are drilled into the metal studs (24 inchs apart) and then you slid the mirror into the clips or glue it to the wall. We chose the clips and it works perfectly. The mount must be directly into the metal stud and there is very little room for error.

[chuckinca]

These posts are so timely. Just today my husband said we should get a new TV for the bedroom and mount in on the wall. Too much trouble I think! I would rather place it on furniture.


I just looked up the weights of 42" plasma and LCD TV's - I thought that plasma were much heavier than LCD, but it seems that they are both are around 70 Lbs, give or take 10 lbs or so.

Metal Stud or Wood Stud wall framing should have no problem holding up this minor amount of weight using 1/4" diameter screws. One ea 1/4" - 20 self taping screw will hold up about 1500 Lbs in shear. Put in two 1/4" screws and they will handle 3000 Lbs when you have under a 100 Lbs.


.

[downeaster]

That is true. However, the installer may not want to be responsible for that type of workaround. I would never attach it to plywood. And I doubt the installer would either.

Yes, you could make something of that order work (not plywood though) but the responsibility would be homeowner's. If I were the installer I still wouldn't do it. Liability.

If you attach a piece of 3/4" plywood to the wall between two studs you could attach a moose head to that with the moose head still attached to the moose. That may be a slight exaggeration but it would certainly hold a 75 pound TV.

[JohnN]

We're opting to just place the TV on furniture, it's just too easy that way.

[nanci2539]

Good input but this is the concern. The mount we would get is a swival mount that rotates. If the TV was going flush on the wall, granted it would take the weight but when you rotate the mount, it pulls away from the wall and the weight gets leveraged and puts stress on the mount. This was the concern the installer had.

It may work with the tips you all posted but there is too much hesitation. If I think about it; what are we gaining by putting it on the wall because I still want a piece of furniture under it!

But again, good input that I will bring to the installer's attention.

[nanci2539]

Look what I found

http://www.avmountsonline.com/proddetail.php?prod=CM-301R&cat=49

[In awe of TV]

Be careful with that ceiling mount, it's quite hideous looking. You don't want your bedroom looking like a hospital room, do you? IMHO, that is.

[nanci2539]

Bought a beutiful hand painted Bombay chest for the TV to sit on. We saw it at Southern Lifestyles in Spanish Springs. It was marked 30% off; add the extra 10% and Village Resident $5%; we got a good deal! It was cheaper than the install price and mount along with carpentry if we went with the original plan to mount it on the wall.

Thanks for your input.