Mounting Flat Screen TV?

[HLAuburn]

We're thinking about getting a new TV for our living room. I'd like to mount it on the wall above the fireplace, but I have no idea how complicated that is or where to even start. If we buy the TV from somewhere like Sam's, who do we get to mount it on the wall and do the wiring and stuff?

Also, as far as the cables go, the outlet is on an opposite wall, so do they just drop it down the fireplace wall thru the attic?

As you can tell, I'm not real tech savvy, so any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

First, make sure the tv is ok to go above the fireplace. The heat from the fireplace can cause problems for a lot of tv's. Second, spend 30 minutes sitting in the chair you will use watching that tv looking at where the tv will go and see if it is comfortable to watch at that height. Third, if you mount it, don't get a mounting unit from the store and don't get the HDMI cable from the store--use monoprice.com and you will save a BUNDLE.

As for the cable installation (if possible they could put the cable line through the attic and install another jack near the TV. They will charge you to do that.

 

[sewer]

We're thinking about getting a new TV for our living room. I'd like to mount it on the wall above the fireplace, but I have no idea how complicated that is or where to even start. If we buy the TV from somewhere like Sam's, who do we get to mount it on the wall and do the wiring and stuff?

Also, as far as the cables go, the outlet is on an opposite wall, so do they just drop it down the fireplace wall thru the attic?

As you can tell, I'm not real tech savvy, so any help is appreciated! Thanks!

You can run the HDMI cable, cable tv, and speaker wires through the wall but the power has to be in a conventional outlet box.

 

[acename]

You'll have to have an electrician put an outlet on the wall you want it on, I'm pretty sure.

 

[clovergirl5]

We just had a flatscreen lcd mounted a couple days ago. We mounted ours on the wall instead of the fireplace (I wanted it over the fp but dh didn't want to move his deer mounts ). Dh actually mounted it on a mounting bracket they sell. We, at the same time, switched from dish to directv and had directv come out and hook up satelite. They dealt with the wiring and cables and crap. It was included in our free installation. Great deal we got from Best buy on the tv, directv.
Not sure how that works if you mount over the fp. Is it a real fp or a gas fp? We have a gas one and there is sheet stone up the wall to look like a real fp. If its fake then running the wires/cords shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[HLAuburn]

Thanks everyone! Maybe we'll rethink putting it above the FP. It IS pretty high up, and although we NEVER use the fireplace, it sounds a little complicated.

 

[Micca]

Iwould never want my tv above fireplace. It's cool in principle, but in practice it'sucks.

 

[Buckalew11]

Thanks everyone! Maybe we'll rethink putting it above the FP. It IS pretty high up, and although we NEVER use the fireplace, it sounds a little complicated.

If it is too high, that's a good idea (rethinking).

We just built and put our TV over the FP and we love it but the fireplace is not real high so you don't have to sit looking "up". I think that sounds miserable! We're really happy with it over the FP. I like that it gives the room one "focal" point. FP should be a room's focal point (imo) but the TV seems to take over.

 

[bicker]

Another vote against putting the television above the fireplace. It is definitely too high, unless you plan to have all your viewers sitting in recliners, fully reclined all the time.

Having said that, I personally don't like the standard recommendations for where to position HDTVs. Those recommendations put my 50" only 17" off the floor. That does put the center of the screen at eye level, which is the deliberate intention and indeed the ideal positioning for most purposes. The problem with it is that sometimes I'm multi-tasking, watching television while mastering the podcast and videocast for church, or remoting into work to do a system software build, etc. Positioned where it is "supposed" to be positioned, my laptop screen blocks half the television. So my wife and I are now in the market for a new television stand that will put the television about 22" to 24" off the ground. That should lift the television a bit out of the way, without degrading the viewing angle too much.

Just another note, in case you do decide to mount your television high: Be sure that you tilt it down enough. A lot of people mount the television flat on the wall, and then complain about myriad visual degradation. If you're going to mount a television high, it needs to be tilted down so you are still looking at its face straight-on. A lot of people don't do this, or don't tilt it down enough, because it makes it look like the television will fall on top of them. The tilt isn't going to make the television fall; it will either fall or it won't.

If your concern is solely aesthetics, then put something pretty up above the fireplace. It's a prominent spot in your room, and no television looks good enough to be considered an aesthetic paragon. Hide the television away in the corner, perhaps, or banish it to a family room or den, where it can be positioned properly, without as much concern about aesthetics.

Best of luck with your new purchase!

 

[HLAuburn]

Thank you all for your replies! The more I read, the more I realize that the fireplace is out (for several reasons), and I think we'll either mount it on the wall where the old TV is or buy a console table to place it on. I guess as far as those choices go, its just a matter on personal taste, so we need to check out the options.

Thanks again!