Short Run Pro Flat Panel TV Screen Mounting Guide
You have spent a lot of money on your new Flat Panel TV. Make sure you mount it in a secure fashion so your investment doesn’t end up on the floor in pieces.
There are a number of ways to mount the TV based on your personal preference and location. Use the information below as a general guideline to mount your Flat Panel TV. Short Run pro has the mounting brackets you need to securely mount your TV and enjoy it for years.
Ceiling Basics
When using a flat panel ceiling mount a ceiling flange and extension pipe are required to properly position and secure the screen. Check above your ceiling surface
for wood or metal joists. Many of our flat panel ceiling mounts include the hardware, ceiling flanges and extension pipes necessary for mounting; check to make sure
the mount you want will meet your hardware needs.
Wall Mount Basics
For wall mounting a flat panel screen there are lots of style and mobility options (flat, tilt, swivel and articulating arms), but the principle is
the same: you need a sturdy pair of wall studs to securely mount your screen. Flat Panel wall mounts are made for standard wall-stud spacings, 16" centers are standard
for domestic applications and 24" centers are standard for industrial applications. Hardware kits are available or included for wood or metal studs, and also for
solid concrete or cinder blocks. Check to make sure the wall mount you're purchasing includes the mounting hardware.
WHAT TYPE OF MOUNT DO YOU NEED?
The most popular types of flat panel mounts are wall mounts and ceiling mounts.
Wall Mounts
There are several options to choose from when wall mounting a flat panel screen. You can mount your screen flat for direct viewing, you can tilt it down
from the wall so that it is better angled for viewing when it is positioned relatively high on the wall, or you can mount the screen with an articulating arm. If
you're looking at a tilting wall mount, check to see how easily adjustable it is; some mounts allow you to tilt your screen while its mounted, others require you
to remove the screen before making adjustments.
The articulating arm is by far the most versatile of the flat panel mounts that are offered; they offer both tilt and/or swivel, in addition to a wide
range of positioning options enabled by the extension and bend of the arm.
Ceiling Mounts
Ceiling mounts are great for places where wall mounting is not an option, like when placing your screen in the middle of a big room, or in front of
a window or door. With the use of an extension pipe you can customize the height of your ceiling-mounted flat panel screen. If you purchase an adjustable extension pipe
this process is made even easier.
There are a few more alternatives for mounting flat panels: tabletop or desktop flat panel mounts and flat panel lifts are a couple of examples.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT A MOUNT WILL FIT MY SCREEN?
Once you know what kind of mount you want and where you're going to put it, the next step is to make sure that your screen and mount will be
compatible. Every screen has a hole pattern on its back to which a mount can be fastened with screws. Since screen manufacturers make a variety of hole patterns
on their flat panels, adapter plates are necessary to make sure mounts that are made to match most screens will accommodate the particular patterns that are specific
to each model. A flat panel adapter plate is just a metal plate with the same hole pattern as the screen it matches and the same hole pattern as the mount it matches.
Mount manufacturers offer lists of adapter plates that are guaranteed, when selected correctly, to perfectly fit and mount your screen.
HOW DO I INSTALL MY SCREEN AND MOUNT?
Installing your screen and mount should be done with a minimum of two people if your screen is large. Lifting the screen into place, positioning it and then
fastening it is a simple job, but it is important to have a friend available to help hold the screen while you work. We recommend securing your mount to it's
fixture in the ceiling or wall, fastening the adapter plate to your screen, and then mounting your flat panel and adapter plate to the mount itself.
Depending on your mount, cable management will be one of the final steps of the flat panel installation process. Many mounts do offer cable management
systems to conceal unruly wires.
Be sure to read the mount and flat panel installation instructions that accompany your screen and mount, and get a friend to help.
Click here to view our Speaker & TV Wall Mounts/Brackets area.
Note
This guide has been created to give Short Run Pro customers advise on mounting flat panel TV screens. Each application is different and this information is used as
a guideline. This information is not meant to replace state regulations or local engineering practices.
