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Everyone wants to mount their new Flat Screen TV's on the wall these days. The big problem is that when this is done all the cables dangle down to the dvd/cable/surround sound boxes. So that is where we come in. People usually want to run the cables in the wall. Sounds easy enough but there are several things you have to think about.
- Electric- you will have to run electricity to the new TV. That may involve going through several studs and really opening up the wall. You need use someone experienced in remodeling. I have seen too many jobs where installers give no thought to the amount of sheetrock they destroy and whether it is a clean installation. The result is a lot of extra time and money cleaning up their mess.
- Cables- The most frustrating apsect of these new TVs, HD cable boxes, and surround sound boxes is a lack of a standard. Some come with HDMI, some still use DVI, and others use composite and even RCA. THe result is you usually have to run several cables through the wall to accomadate all the different standards. Often the cable box has to have its own cables running directly to the TV for video, especially if it is HDTV. As a buyer you really have to plan out everything to minimize time, expense and frustration. Otherwise you will end up with a set up that does not accomplish everything it should. Hopefully HDMI will be fully standard on all equipment within a year and remove a lot of frustration. It supports both video and audio and potentally eliminates the need for all other cables. Just remember that you need to ensure that you can run your cable box to your A/V box and your A/V box to your TV. Also keep in mind that you can get adaptors to convert from HDMI to DVI...
- Pricing- A suckers bet is to buy cables in stores, The mark up is 500% plus for these items. What cost $150 for a 16 foot HDMI cable can be ahd online for $25. We have personally installed these cables and find that they work well. Also, store bought cables tend to over package and design the cables to justify the perceived value. What you end up with is ridicously thick cables that can not possibly be fished though a wall without tearing out the entire wall.
- Wall mounts- There are so many different types of wall mounts available that it is simply insane. Make sure you get one that is width adjustable so you can screw into the wall studsl. Otherwise that $ 4K TV may fall on its face. I would also recommend a lockable version to discourage thieves.
Installing Plasma or LCD TV
The first thing to do is to figure out where th place the TV. IT is not recommended that you install it over fireplaces, the heat can potentally damage the electronics of the unit. Once the spot is selected you will need to find the studs in the wall with a stud finder and mark them. Then you will need to install the wall mount for the TV and make sure it is level. They usually install with bolts so you should mark the holes, drill them, then install the unit. Once that is done you need to figure out where to place the double gange box for the electric and A/V cables. Usually centered under the mounting rails works fine. But check the TV to see where all the jacks are located. Hopefully they are all pointing down so you have plenty of room to install the cables. You will need to use a remodeling double gang box and trace the outline of it. Make sure there is no wood behind the box in the wall . Check with the studfinder. Once the hole is marked, cut it with a keyhole saw. Be careful not to cut too deep. You don't want to cut any other cables or pipes in the wall. Now comes the hard part. If you are running the cables straight down then you likely will not have to deal with more wood. But if you have to go either left or right then you are likely going to have to cut more holes in the sheetrock to get access to the studs to drill holes in them. Studs are usually 16" apart so you may have several holes to make( save the sheetrock for reinstallation later).
Once holes are drilled in the studs you will have to run the cables through them and to their final destination using a fish tool to make open longer runs. Then it is time to connect the electric and close the walls back up. If you have saved the sheetrock and neatly cut it out you can install it using small cuts of wood. 1x4 stock is a good size to do this. Cut the wood 4-5" longer than the holes and place screws on 2 sides of the hole to screw into the wood. Then reattach the sheetrock to the wood in the hole. Then all you need to do is tape and bed. I recommend you use 45 hot mud so that it dries quickly and you can float out the patches in a few hours. Lastly you will need to texture, prime and paint. Then the wall is ready for the TV.
This is not a simple project and I do not recommend a novice in remodeling try it. It requires many steps and a knowledge of both remodeling, and electronics. If you are interested in a quote our prices start at $600 for labor and go up depending on the complexity.
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