| While you can certainly save some money by | | | | wall. If you have wooden studs in your wall, the |
| mounting your flat panel plasma or LCD TV on the | | | | mounting job can be quite simple. Metal studs can |
| wall by doing it yourself, there are a few | | | | cause problems that need a closer look to effectively |
| considerations that you should take into account | | | | resolve. |
| before setting out to do the job. | | | | 4. Read Your Lease if You Live in an Apartment |
| 1. Get the Correct Wall Mount for Your TV's | | | | Before you go drilling in your apartment's walls, make |
| Application | | | | sure it's kosher with your landlord. Otherwise, you could |
| TV wall mounts come in a variety of sizes and | | | | violate your lease and be susceptible for damage bills, |
| application types. You need to know how you want to | | | | or even get yourself evicted. If you would rather not |
| use your TV in your daily life before choosing the wall | | | | read your lease, talk to your landlord or apartment |
| mount. Will you be viewing it from a variety of angles? | | | | manager about what you want to do. |
| If so, perhaps an articulating wall mount would make | | | | 5. Gather All Your Tools BEFORE You Start |
| sense for you. That way, you can angle it toward your | | | | Nothing makes a mounting job worse than having to |
| kitchen while you are cooking or for other similar | | | | look for tools or make a run to Home Depot for |
| situations. Think about your room layout. If you know | | | | something you forgot while you have wires hanging |
| your TV must be mounted higher than eye-level, then | | | | out of the wall. By way of example, if you plan on |
| you should look for tilting wall mount. Plan ahead so | | | | mounting the TV on a Saturday morning, make a list of |
| that your viewing experience will be as enjoyable as | | | | the tools you need on Friday night. If those are not in |
| you hoped when you decided on making the | | | | your immediate possession, take Friday night and run |
| investment in a flat panel TV. | | | | to Home Depot to buy the missing tool(s) or go |
| 2. Get the Right Size Wall Mount for Your TV | | | | borrow them from your neighbor. When Saturday rolls |
| Sizing the mount should be pretty straightforward. | | | | around, get the tools out first, then (and only then) |
| Most TVs and mounts are pretty standardized in sizing | | | | proceed with the installation of the TV wall mount. |
| and bolt options. Purchase from a reputable vendor | | | | Hopefully, these tips will get you started on the right |
| and you should be able to get good advice and | | | | foot and save you some time and heartache along |
| recommendations on which size mount fits your | | | | the way. The satisfaction you get and money you |
| specific TV. | | | | save from taking on a TV wall mount installation by |
| 3. Make Sure You Have Wooden Studs in Your Wall | | | | yourself is rewarding. Just take the time and effort to |
| It is surprising how many people jump into mounting a | | | | get it right and your installation will go much more |
| TV on their wall without knowing what is inside their | | | | smoothly. |