Do It Yourself: Install A LCD TV Bracket

Handymen all over the planet save money by “doing it themselves”.  It gives them a certain satisfaction and is often a learning experience.  There are even magazines that cater to this group of men and women.  An LCD TV bracket is one item that they can install without professional help in most instances.  I know this first hand, as I did it myself.  Actually, I needed more help with attaching the TV to the bracket than I needed help installing the television bracket.

What most people do not know is that there is a lot of head work to do before you even open the box.  Before you buy one, you have to analyze the space where you want the installation and determine if it is appropriate.  You will need to know what the wall is constructed of to determine which fasteners to use and where to best locate the bracket.

There are a lot of different TV brackets out there, and each has a little different set of requirements.  Some hang the television like a picture on a wall.  Some tilt, so that you can place them higher and put furniture under them.  Some even pull out from the wall and pivot as much as 180 degrees for viewing from another room.  Each style has weight limitations.  The bracket will have on the package, somewhere, this specification.  Make sure that the TV is not too heavy for the bracket.

You will also have electric connection considerations, as is with most of these installations, a lot of wires and cables to DVD players, theater surround, and the like.  Some television brackets take this into consideration and have channels or wireways to contain them in an orderly fashion.  Some use clips.  One advantage of some is that they have a quick connect system.   This aids greatly in the installation process.

Of course, you will follow the bracket manufacturer’s installation directions.  Carefully read them FIRST.  Some do not have the correct hardware for all types of walls.  You may be required to go to the hardware store for a specific type of bolt or fastener.  It is helpful to know this in advance and much less frustrating as well.

Remember to line up some help in putting up your TV as they can be heavy and awkward and you need to be extremely cautious not to damage your set.  Also you will want someone to sit down with you afterward to enjoy the fruits of your labors.