TV WALL MOUNTS
(THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT WALL MOUNTING BRACKET FOR YOUR NEEDS & BUDGET)
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There are many types of TV wall mounts available on the market these days. Wall mount manufacturers are busy coming up with the new type of hardware all the time. We've put together this guide to help you understand the types of wall mounting brackets that exist on the market today and help you choose the right one for your needs and your budget.
QUICK SUMMARY:
The two most popular options are (1) tilting wall mounts and (2) full motions wall mounts. The rest of them are designed to answer some very specific needs. Our installers carry a stock of these popular mounts in their vehicle, in case you decide to purchase a mount from us. If you need us to provide a different type of a wall mount for your project, these can be added to your order when you speak with our dispatcher.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
3. FULL-MOTION ("ARTICULATING") WALL MOUNTS
1. FLAT WALL MOUNTS
Flat wall mount
This is the most basic wall mounting bracket that you can find. It doesn't have any moving parts. The TV is stationary. It allows you to adjust the location of the TV by shifting it a few inches to the right or to the left during the installation, but once the TV is installed it's not supposed to move anymore.
Pros:
- Cost savings (albeit not very significant to matter)
- No moving parts, which means the TV will be as close to the wall as possible
- Can be used on drywall with no studs behind
- Can be used on concrete or brick walls
- Can be used on top of any fireplace
Cons:
- Can't adjust the angle of the TV (can result in a less-than-ideal viewing experience)
- No access to the back of the TV set (Want to plug in another cable? You'll have to remove the TV first)
- Need special tools to secure safety bolts properly (it's veeeeery hard to reach for anything behind the TV)
SUMMARY:
In most cases, you're better off using a tilted wall mount (described below).
2. TILTED WALL MOUNTS
A small (but key) improvement over the flat wall mount described above, this bracket allows you to adjust the vertical angle of your TV. Just like the previous mount, you can shift the TV a few inches to the right or to the left a few inches during the installation. After that, you can tilt it withing a certain range of angles.
Pros:
- Cost savings (although the cost can be a tiny bit higher than for the flat option)
- Few moving parts, which means the TV will be close to the wall
- Can adjust the viewing angle of the TV (that's pretty big deal)
- Can be used on drywall with no studs behind
- Can be used on concrete or brick walls
- Can be used on top of any fireplace
Cons:
- Restricted access to the back of the TV set (Depending on where the ports are located on the back of your TV, you may or may not be able to reach them with the TV still on the wall)
- Only the vertical viewing angle can be adjusted.
SUMMARY:
This is the most popular wall mounting option and our installers always have a supply of these mounts with them if your decide to purchase the hardware from us. Can be used on any type of wall, studs or no studs, concrete, brick, etc. Can be used on more fireplaces.
Tilting (or tilted) wall mount
3. FULL MOTION (ARTICULATING) MOUNTS
Full motion wall mount
This is a more complicated, and hence a more expensive, piece of hardware. These mounts weight more, cost more, but they also do more. You can move the TV in many ways other than up and down.
Because these mount allow you to point (or articulate) this TV in any direction by changing both its vertical angle and the horizontal angle, these wall mounts are also called "articulating".
Pros:
- Easy access to the back of the TV
- You can angle the TV either vertically or horizontally for better viewing experience
- You can pull the TV away from the wall and closer to the viewer (as much as the scissor-action arm would allow)
Cons:
- Higher cost (usually 30%-50% compared to a similar tilted mount)
- Even when the wall mount arm is fully folded, the gap between the TV and the wall can be a bit wider than when you use flat or tilted mounts
- Has to be secured to the wall using studs. This is NOT optional. When the wall mount arm is fully expended, it creates a lever that puts a high amount of force where it's attached to the wall. If the wall can't handle the load, the wall needs to be reinforced or a different type of wall mount should be used
- Cables need to be managed properly so as not to get in between the moving parts where they can get damaged or cut
SUMMARY:
A popular option that many customers choose. Our installers always have a supply of these mounts with them if your decide to purchase the hardware from us. Has to be secured to the studs inside the wall, which rules our some types of walls and some types of (usually, older) fireplaces.
4. PULL-DOWN WALL MOUNTS
These types of wall mounts are usually used on top of fireplaces where the TV would be positioned too high to watch it comfortable, even if it was tilted to the maximum available angle.
This type of hardware tends to be very expensive as it includes component designed to make it easier to pull the TV down, lift it back up, or leave the TV in an in-between position between to two ends of it's range of movement. These can be implemented are a system of metal springs or pressurized gas tubes similar in construction to the shock absorbers in your car.
Some models also include heat sensors that change colour if your the hot air from the fireplace makes your TV too hot.
Pros:
- You can adjust the actual height of the TV for better viewing experience
- Easy access to the back of the TV
Cons:
- Complicated tech makes this one of the most expensive options
- Needs studs to be secured to the wall property (similar to the full-motion mount)
- When it's brought down, it can be within the reach of children (possibly negating the very reason you're all mounting your TV in the first place)
- When brought down, can be right in front of the fireplace with the hot air directly hitting the back of the TV set
SUMMARY:
This is a more "exotic" option, however, we've completed many projects like this. For most customers, a full-motion mount is sufficient. However, if you need a pull-down mount installed, we're happy to help you that too.
Pull-down TV wall mount
Ceiling mount
5. CEILING MOUNTS
Ceiling mounts are used mostly in commercial applications, where there is no wall to attach the TV to. For example, if you need a display in the middle of your store, or wall it made of a material that you can't put a wall mount on (e.g. glass), using a ceiling mount is a great option.
Pros:
- Can be used where other brackets can't be
Cons:
- Higher cost for the hardware
- Depending on the type and the height of the ceiling, may require the use of special equipment (scaffolding, scissor lifts, bucket lifts, etc.)
SUMMARY:
A more expensive TV mounting option that is predominantly used in commercial applications (however, who's there to say that you can't have this installed at home?)
When you're ready to get your TV installed, call us. We're local, insured, and have done hundreds of residential and commercial projects.
Call us to schedule your TV installation